Eddie Hearn, head of Matchroom Boxing, officially confirmed in an interview that the contract for the mega-fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua has already been signed by both sides. According to the promoter, neither party has any legal grounds to unilaterally back out of the bout. The statement came against the backdrop of recent remarks by Fury himself, who publicly declared that the fight was “unlikely to happen,” creating a media frenzy around the upcoming event.

“No One Can Walk Away from a Contract Like That”

Hearn reacted sharply to the public statements made by the WBC champion. “The contract is signed, we are waiting for a date. You have seen Tyson Fury making noise and shouting… But there is nothing to shout about — the fight is agreed. No one can walk away from a contract like that. The only thing that can stop the fight is a direct breach of its terms,” the promoter emphasized. Thus, Matchroom Boxing made it clear that any attempt by Fury or his camp to sabotage the bout without objective reasons would be treated as a breach of contractual obligations. According to sources, the fight between the British heavyweights is planned for November 2026, although the exact date has not yet been announced.

The Location Battle: The UK vs. Madison Square Garden

The main sticking point in organizing the super-fight has become the venue. Joshua and Hearn initially signed the contract with the expectation of holding the bout in the United Kingdom, where both fighters have a strong fan base and a familiar environment. However, the organizers from the Saudi company Sela, responsible for logistics and the broadcast, are insisting on moving the show to the United States. The priority arena under consideration is Madison Square Garden in New York — a choice driven by the convenience of a global broadcast on the Netflix platform, which has acquired exclusive rights to the show. A change of location entails additional logistical and organizational costs, which, according to Matchroom, reduces Joshua’s final purse.

Matchroom’s Financial Demands

In connection with the possible relocation of the fight to America, Matchroom Boxing is officially demanding a review of the financial terms of the contract. The promoter insists on increasing Joshua’s payout if the bout does indeed take place on US soil, since the additional costs of flights, accommodation, and adaptation to a new market fall on the event’s budget. Hearn had previously issued a hard ultimatum with a list of conditions for holding the fight with Fury, and the financial question remains a key issue in the current negotiations between the parties.

Dana White Will Not Be the Promoter

Worthy of separate attention is Hearn’s comment on the rumors about involving UFC boss Dana White (Zuffa Boxing) in organizing the super-fight. The promoter categorically refuted the version according to which White is acting as the event’s promoter. According to Hearn, White may be present solely as a representative or advisor to Fury’s team, since the promotional rights to the fight belong to other parties — Matchroom Boxing and Sela. This statement is intended to delineate the roles of the participants and ease the tension around a possible conflict of interest.

Contradictory Data

There is a direct discrepancy in the positions of the parties regarding the status of the bout. On the one hand, Eddie Hearn claims that the contract is signed, the fight is “agreed,” and it cannot be cancelled without a breach of terms. On the other hand, Tyson Fury himself in a recent public statement declared that the bout was “unlikely to happen,” which effectively casts doubt on the very fact of signing or, at the very least, the voluntariness of participation. Moreover, despite Hearn talking about a signed contract, the exact date of the fight has still not been named, and the question of the location (the UK or the US) remains unresolved. Thus, the contractual obligations are formally recorded, but the practical realization of the bout depends on settling the dispute over the venue and the financial terms, which makes the outcome of the event not entirely predictable.

What Comes Next

As of the current date, 23 August 2026, about three months remain until the assumed November deadline. The key milestones of the coming weeks will be: the announcement of the exact fight date, the final decision on the location, and the signing of the final financial addenda to the contract. If the negotiations between Matchroom, Sela, and Fury’s camp do not succeed, the matter may go to arbitration, which in turn would push the bout back for an indefinite period. Nevertheless, Hearn’s position remains unchanged: the contract is in force, and the fight will happen.