The highly anticipated heavyweight showdown between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury has been thrown into fresh uncertainty as a dispute between key promoters and organisers threatens to delay the blockbuster fight.
The all-British clash is being targeted for November 2026, but disagreements over the venue and contractual terms have prevented an official announcement. While both fighters have signed agreements for the bout, important details surrounding where and how the event will be staged remain unresolved.
At the centre of the latest disagreement is Eddie Hearn, Joshua's promoter, and Saudi boxing power broker Turki Alalshikh, with UFC boss Dana White also becoming involved in the public back-and-forth.
Hearn has insisted that White will not be the promoter of the Joshua-Fury fight, despite White's involvement in discussions surrounding the event. Hearn has also criticised comments suggesting that the UFC boss has a formal promotional role in the contest.
Another major sticking point is the proposed venue. The original agreement reportedly calls for the fight to take place in the United Kingdom, while there has been strong interest in moving the event to Madison Square Garden in New York to accommodate a more favourable US broadcast window for Netflix.
Hearn has argued that moving the fight to the United States would have financial consequences for Joshua, including a higher tax burden. He has therefore pushed for adjustments to the proposed terms if the contest is moved outside Britain.
The dispute has also generated frustration from Fury, who has publicly criticised Joshua and Hearn over the delays. Fury has suggested that the negotiations are becoming unnecessarily complicated, while Hearn maintains that Joshua's camp is simply insisting that the agreed contractual terms are respected.
Despite the disagreements, Hearn remains confident that the fight can still be made. Negotiations are continuing over the venue, financial arrangements and other contractual details.
The fight has been in the making for years and was formally announced for later in 2026 after both heavyweight stars agreed to face each other following their respective comeback bouts.
Joshua and Fury have both expressed their desire to meet in the ring, but the latest promoter dispute means fans may have to wait longer for confirmation of the date and location.
With the proposed November window approaching, pressure is mounting on the various parties involved to resolve their differences and prevent one of the most anticipated heavyweight fights in recent years from becoming another bout that fails to materialise.
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