Fury not locked to U.K. for Joshua fight, Hearn bars Zuffa

Tyson Fury's signed deal to face Anthony Joshua carries no clause requiring the bout to land in the U.K., BoxingScene has learned, opening a potential gap between what the fighters agreed to and where the superfight actually happens.

Anthony Joshua's contract tells a different story. Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed Friday that his fighter's paperwork mandates the bout occur exclusively on British soil. "I don't know what [Fury] says about the venue," Hearn told reporters after a weigh-in in Glendale, Arizona, per BoxingScene. "I just know what ours says: That, exclusively, the fight must take place in the U.K."

Zuffa Boxing barred from promotional role despite White claims

Hearn also shot down recent comments from UFC boss Dana White, who told media he would promote the Joshua-Fury clash and hinted at a U.S. venue. According to Hearn, both fighters inked contracts naming him and Frank Warren as promoters of record and explicitly banning Zuffa Boxing from any involvement. "Specifically in the contract it says Dana White, Zuffa cannot have any promotional involvement in the show," Hearn said. "Dana doesn't know about the contract for the show that we signed and negotiated."

Saudi Arabia's Turki Alalshikh, who owns 60 percent of Zuffa Boxing, financed the deal through events planner Sela. That stake reportedly led White to assume a promotional hand, but Hearn insists the contracts prevent it. If Alalshikh wants to move the fight abroad, Hearn said Matchroom would entertain the idea only through fresh negotiations that satisfy Joshua's team. Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas and SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles have surfaced as possible targets, according to boxing officials who spoke to BoxingScene.

Both men are scheduled for tune-up bouts first — Joshua on July 25, Fury on August 1 in Dublin — before the heavyweight showdown closes out their current deals with Alalshikh.

Source: boxingscene.com