Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua were due to have their first head-to-head press conference on Wednesday. Now even that might not happen, with their December 11 showdown in Cardiff now in serious doubt.
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn told Sky Sports that nothing is confirmed yet. “At the moment nothing confirmed for next week press conference wise,” Hearn said.
The fight was finally set for December 11 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. Within 48 hours of the announcement, a promotional dispute erupted, leading to mounting speculation that the mega-fight could be called off.
Hearn’s Warning
Hearn went further when asked whether Fury could hold the press conference without him and Joshua. “With regards to are we expecting to be there, there wouldn’t be one without us,” he said.
That statement carries a particular weight. It suggests the conference needs both fighters present, which in turn suggests neither wants to show up alone.
White’s Uncertainty
Dana White, the American promoter, was in Cardiff on Saturday night for Johnny Fisher’s victory over Michael Pirotton. He spoke about the fight itself, but he offered no comfort on the press conference.
“I have no idea,” White said when asked about Wednesday’s press conference.
He also did not confirm whether he would be in attendance himself. “I guess I’ll leave that as a surprise,” White said.
The announcement for the fight stated that Saudi financier Turki Alalshikh’s The Ring and Dana White were staging it.
What Is at Stake
The Fury vs Joshua rivalry has been building for more than a decade. This week the fight was finally set for December 11 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
The December 11 date is now in doubt, and the press conference scheduled for Wednesday may not go ahead at all.
The Numbers So Far
- The fight was announced for December 11 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff
- The promotional dispute erupted within 48 hours of the announcement
- The press conference was due on Wednesday
- Eddie Hearn says nothing is confirmed for next week’s conference
- Dana White says he has no idea whether the conference will happen
What We Know
The situation is fluid, and nobody seems willing to commit. Hearn has made it clear that there would be no conference without both sides present.
White has not confirmed his attendance. His “surprise” answer suggests he is keeping his options open.
The fight has been a long time coming. Now it looks like it may not happen at all.
The key facts are simple:
- The fight was announced for December 11 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff
- The press conference was due on Wednesday
- Hearn says nothing is confirmed for next week’s conference
- White says he has no idea whether the conference will happen
The fight is a megafight, and it deserves a proper build-up. That build-up may now be impossible to deliver.
Hearn’s statement that “there wouldn’t be one without us” is the clearest signal yet that the fight is in trouble. If neither side shows up for the press conference, the message will be loud and clear.
The fight is scheduled for December 11. Whether it happens depends on whether the two sides can agree on who stages it.
For now, the only certainty is uncertainty.
Source material: “Hearn: Fury vs AJ press conference not 'confirmed',” Sky Sports.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.