Tyson Fury not locked to U.K. for Joshua fight, Eddie Hearn says

Tyson Fury's signed contract to face Anthony Joshua does not require the bout to take place in the United Kingdom, BoxingScene has learned, opening the door to venue negotiations even as Joshua's deal explicitly mandates a British site.

Joshua promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed Friday that while Fury's agreement with Saudi financier Turki Alalshikh leaves the location flexible, Joshua's contract stipulates the fight must happen in the U.K. "I don't know what [Fury's contract] says about the venue," Hearn told reporters in Arizona, per BoxingScene. "I just know what ours says: That, exclusively, the fight must take place in the U.K."

Dana White and Zuffa Boxing locked out of promotional role

Hearn emphasized that both fighters have signed contracts naming him and Frank Warren as promoters of record, with specific language barring UFC chief Dana White and Zuffa Boxing from any promotional involvement. That restriction comes despite White telling reporters last week that he would be promoting the bout and hinting at a possible U.S. venue. Alalshikh owns 60 percent of Zuffa Boxing but cannot unilaterally override the promotional exclusion, Hearn said.

"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." Hearn added that Alalshikh would need to open fresh negotiations if he wants to move the fight outside Britain, and that any shift to Las Vegas' Allegiant Stadium or Los Angeles' SoFi Stadium would require Joshua's approval.

Both Joshua and Fury are contracted for tune-up bouts before the superfight, with Joshua meeting Kristian Prenga on July 25 and Fury set for an August 1 card in Dublin. No date has been announced for the championship clash.

Source: boxingscene.com