The highly anticipated heavyweight clash between former world champions Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury will go ahead, despite recent doubts over the bout, Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has insisted.
Hearn said the fight is effectively confirmed after both boxers signed contracts, stressing that neither fighter can simply withdraw from the agreement.
Fury had earlier raised fresh concerns about the proposed showdown, saying it “doesn’t look like it is going to happen.” His comments sparked renewed uncertainty over the long-awaited British heavyweight battle.
However, speaking to DAZN, Hearn dismissed the concerns, saying negotiations are now focused mainly on settling the date and venue.
“We’ve signed the contract, we’re waiting for a date. You saw Tyson Fury shouting and screaming … There’s nothing to shout and scream about, the fight’s done,” Hearn said.
“The fight’s signed. No one can pull out of the fight. You can’t just pull out of a contract.
“There’s no suggestion that the fight’s not happening. No one can stop this fight from happening. The only way it can stop from happening is if they actually breach the contract.”
A November date has reportedly been discussed for the contest, although the venue is yet to be finalised.
Joshua and Fury have both signed separate agreements with Saudi Arabian-owned boxing promoter Sela, which is involved in organising the highly anticipated encounter.
While Sela is reportedly interested in staging the fight at Madison Square Garden in New York, Hearn said Joshua’s camp would prefer the bout to take place in the United Kingdom.
“We know everybody and his dog involved in the fight wants to do the fight in America. We don’t,” Hearn said.
He added that Joshua’s camp had told Sela that it was willing to consider a US venue, but only under terms acceptable to them.
The disagreement over the venue remains one of the major issues surrounding the fight, which has been years in the making.
Hearn had previously maintained that Joshua’s contract contains a provision for the fight to be staged in the UK, although he acknowledged that the terms would have to be renegotiated if the bout is moved abroad.
Joshua and Fury remain two of Britain’s biggest heavyweight boxing stars, with their proposed meeting regarded as one of the most anticipated fights in recent years.
With contracts now signed, attention has shifted to the organisers to resolve the venue and formally announce the date for the blockbuster heavyweight clash.