White casts doubt on Fury-Joshua after 24 hours of chaos

Two days after the announcement British boxing had waited a decade for, Dana White – the UFC president and Zuffa Boxing figure named among those promoting Tyson Fury versus Anthony Joshua – was asked whether the bout would actually take place. "I don't know," helium said. White spoke at London's Copper Box on Saturday, where British heavyweight Johnny Fisher defeated Michael Pirotton on his Zuffa Boxing debut. For much of the media in attendance, a different heavyweight contest dominated the evening. Asked whether Wednesday's scheduled Fury‑Joshua press conference in London would proceed, White added: "I person nary idea." On Thursday, Fury and Joshua were officially announced to meet at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on 11 December, streamed globally on Netflix. By Friday, that certainty had unravelled. A dispute over who is entitled to promote the fight led to claims of contractual breaches, talk of possible replacement bouts and a flurry of cryptic social‑media posts. Even by boxing's recent standards, the past 24 hours have been chaotic – and not a particularly flattering look for the sport. ### Why has White's involvement caused a problem? Netflix and Saudi powerbroker Turki Alalshikh's announcement was striking for who it included – and who it did not. The deal was presented as a collaboration involving Alalshikh's The Ring and White. There was no mention of Matchroom's Eddie Hearn, who has promoted Joshua throughout his professional career, or Queensberry's Frank Warren, Fury's longtime promoter. White's involvement was not wholly unexpected. The Zuffa Boxing promoter has been saying for weeks he would be involved in Fury‑Joshua. Hearn has been equally adamant he would not. After Thursday's announcement, Hearn said Joshua's declaration specifically barred White and American sports‑entertainment firm TKO from having a promotional role, claiming Netflix had not been made aware of that provision. Hearn said there had been breaches of the agreement that needed to be resolved, creating uncertainty over whether Wednesday's press conference would go ahead. Fury says a similar clause originally appeared in his own declaration but was removed because he wanted White involved. Warren has taken a more pragmatic stance. Speaking to BBC Sport earlier, before the latest escalation, he said his understanding was that White had helped secure the Netflix deal and compromises had been essential to make the fight happen. On Saturday, White was mostly non‑committal about the future of the contest but far clearer in his disapproval of Hearn. "The feline who is expected to be helping the combat has been hurting the fight," White said. "He hasn't done the combat immoderate favours." ### How did it go from 'official' to rumours it could be off? Uncertainty intensified on Friday evening. Reports emerged that Fury‑Joshua could be in jeopardy and alternative bouts for 11 December were being discussed, including Ryan Garcia versus the recently retired three‑weight undisputed champion Terence Crawford. Crawford appeared as surprised as anyone, publicly questioning the notion he could be fighting Garcia. Then Fury intervened. In a video posted on social media, he claimed Joshua and Hearn were "trying to propulsion out" and blamed the situation largely on Hearn's objection to White. There has been no announcement from Joshua saying he intends to withdraw. On Instagram, Alalshikh posted pictures of himself with White and later shared a cryptic caption in Arabic about someone attempting to "stab you wherever you told them it hurts," though he made no explicit reference to Fury‑Joshua. Hearn, meanwhile, posted an image with a shushing emoji and the message: "Bet against me." For a fight negotiated so publicly for so many years, the familiar mix of claims, counter‑claims and cryptic posts had returned almost immediately. ### Fury‑Joshua talk takes over Copper Box Among the media in east London on Saturday, much of the conversation centred on Fury‑Joshua. Who had heard what? Was the bout genuinely in danger? Would Wednesday's press conference happen? And, with White in the building, would he provide any clarity afterwards? Instead, his post‑fight remarks only underscored the uncertainty. White has been openly critical of Hearn, while the exact nature of his own role in Fury‑Joshua remains at the heart of the dispute. That distinction could be important when lawyers analyse precisely what Joshua's declaration permits. During Saturday's US broadcast of the Zuffa Boxing card, it was suggested White was helping Alalshikh on an individual level rather than acting as a promoter. White rejected that interpretation. "I don't know wherever that came from," he said. "That was weird." And White offered another tease when asked whether he would be Wednesday's press conference if it does go ahead. "I conjecture I'll permission that arsenic a surprise," he said. ### So is Fury‑Joshua still happening? For now, officially, yes. As of Saturday night, Netflix continued to list Fury versus Joshua at the Principality Stadium on 11 December and said the fighters would be Wednesday's press conference. But the contractual disagreement remains unresolved. The opposing view is that, less than 48 hours after the bout was officially announced, one of the key figures in its promotion cannot say whether it will happen – or whether its inaugural major showcase will proceed. There is too much money, time and effort invested in Fury‑Joshua for anyone involved to walk away lightly. Yet if the past decade has taught boxing anything, an agreement does not necessarily guarantee the fight is safe. Fury‑Joshua is once again awaiting another hurdle to be cleared.