The ongoing promotional dispute for the highly anticipated heavyweight clash between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua has taken another turn. UFC CEO Dana White initially claimed he would serve as the promoter for the all-British showdown, a statement that was quickly met with pushback from Frank Warren, Fury’s promoter.
Warren revealed a specific clause in Fury’s contract that explicitly prevents White and his boxing promotion, Zuffa Boxing, from handling the fight. “In the contract with Tyson, it says that Zuffa will not be able to promote that fight! I don’t know where he got that from,” Warren told Fight Hub TV.
When pressed by reporters after the Zuffa Boxing 6 event, White responded with a notably subdued tone. “I’m gonna leave this one alone. Apparently, I’m not the promoter for that fight, according to some guys,” he said during the post-fight press conference. When asked specifically about Warren’s statement, White added, “Then he must be right.”
White had previously promoted the Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford clash, and his involvement in Fury-Joshua seemed plausible given the backing of His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, who also supports Zuffa Boxing. However, the contract clause has now cast doubt on his role.
Meanwhile, Anthony Joshua is set to face Kristian Prenga in a tune-up bout on July 25, 2026, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, before the anticipated Fury fight later this year on Netflix. While a specific date and venue remain unconfirmed, reports suggest Wembley Stadium could host the event in October.
The promotional debate also drew a sharp response from Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter. Hearn dismissed White’s claim on social media, writing, “Such a clout chaser, not a chance. Contractually impossible. Let me know when you find your balls.” White fired back during the UFC 328 press conference, calling Hearn a “fruit loop” for claiming to be the biggest fight in boxing while promoting fighters like Bam Rodriguez and Anthony Joshua.
White and Hearn, once on amicable terms, have been at odds since White entered the boxing market. The dispute over Fury vs. Joshua continues to simmer as the fight draws closer.
