Tyson Fury has claimed the fight at the Principality Stadium is now in serious jeopardy and blamed Eddie Hearn
Tyson Fury’s blockbuster fight with Anthony Joshua could collapse in what would be a huge blow to Cardiff and the Principality Stadium.
The long-awaited Battle of Britain was only officially confirmed on Wednesday, with Fury and Joshua due to meet at the Principality Stadium on December 11 in what promised to be one of the biggest sporting events ever staged in Wales.
But just over 24 hours later, the fight has been thrown into chaos after Fury claimed Joshua and his promoter Eddie Hearn are now refusing to fight and a replacement bout is being looked at.
The dramatic developments have raised fresh doubts over whether the heavyweight showdown will actually go ahead in Cardiff, with a dispute over the involvement of UFC president Dana White could threaten the £150m blockbuster.
Respected boxing journalist Mike Coppinger of The Ring reports the fight could be called off because of “issues”, with a replacement fight involving Terence Crawford and Ryan Garcia being considered.
Fury fighting unified cruiserweight champion David Benavidez is also said to be another option being discussed.
Then, overnight, Fury launched a furious attack on Joshua and Hearn in a series of videos posted on Instagram.
“Breaking news, AJ and Eddie are trying to pull out of the fight,” Fury said. “They’re saying they are not going to fight now.
“It’s mainly to do with Eddie Hearn’s ego. He’s making up a million different things.”
Fury then directly addressed Joshua, saying: “AJ, pull your finger out you little white-flagged, yellow-bellied coward.”
He also warned that Saudi boxing supremo Turki Alalshikh was now looking at alternatives.
“Now you’ve got Turki Alalshikh finding alternative real men who will fight at the drop of a hat,” Fury added.
In a second video, Fury again blamed Hearn’s dispute with White for putting the fight at risk.
“So Eddie Hearn’s ego is trying to cost us and all the boxing fans around the world, the fight the whole world has been waiting for over a decade,” he said.
“And it is all because Eddie doesn’t want someone in the building. It’s pathetic and childish.”
Hearn has insisted that White cannot be involved in the contest because of the terms of the contract signed by Joshua.
White, who runs Zuffa Boxing alongside Alalshikh, has been billed as the lead promoter for the showdown, with Wednesday’s official announcement stating that Alalshikh and White “will collaborate to promote this historic showdown”.
However, Hearn was not named in that announcement and has publicly maintained that White cannot be involved.
The dispute has now spilled into the open, with Alalshikh appearing to back White by posting a picture of the UFC boss smoking a cigar on social media.
Fury also posted a mocked-up fight poster featuring himself against Benavidez, appearing to hint at a possible replacement for Joshua.
The possibility of the Fury-Joshua fight disappearing from Cardiff would represent a huge blow to the Welsh capital, which only secured the contest after a lengthy battle over its location.
Hearn had initially pushed for Wembley Stadium, while the Saudi backers behind the fight had explored the possibility of staging it in New York.
But Cardiff’s Principality Stadium ultimately won the race, with its retractable roof and willingness to accommodate a late-night finish securing the event.
The fight is expected to have a ring walk around 2am to suit the American audience for its Netflix broadcast.
It was supposed to be a spectacular night for Cardiff, with tens of thousands of fans expected to descend on the Welsh capital for the first meeting between two of Britain’s biggest heavyweight stars.
Instead, the event has been plunged into uncertainty before the fighters have even faced each other at a press conference.
For Cardiff, the stakes are significant.
The Principality Stadium has previously hosted some of the biggest nights in British boxing, including Anthony Joshua’s world heavyweight title fight against Carlos Takam and Joe Calzaghe’s famous fight against Mikkel Kessler in 2007.
But Fury against Joshua had promised to take things to another level, with the two most recognisable British heavyweights of their generation finally meeting after more than a decade of anticipation.
The contest is understood to be worth around £150m, with Fury and Joshua each expected to pocket around £75m.
The event will also have brought a huge international audience to Cardiff, while providing a major boost for the city’s hospitality sector.
Fury and Joshua are due to attend a pre-fight press conference in London on September 30.
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