Hearn challenges Dana White's role in Fury-Joshua promotion

Eddie Hearn has challenged Dana White's involvement in promoting the announced fight between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, creating a public disagreement over the event's organisation. BBC Sport reported that Joshua's promoter told IFL TV White could not take part under their contract, despite being named in Netflix's announcement.

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Fury subsequently used Instagram to accuse Joshua and Hearn of trying to withdraw, linking his allegation to the dispute over White. That remains Fury's account, not confirmation that the fight has been cancelled. Hearn's reported comments addressed the promotion arrangements and his intention to uphold the contract, rather than announcing a replacement date or venue.

Netflix's event announcement lists the heavyweight contest for Friday, December 11, at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. It names Turki Alalshikh's The Ring and White as collaborators on the promotion. The broadcaster says the two former heavyweight champions have never met professionally, making the announced bout their first meeting in the ring.

The streaming company also says the event will be available worldwide to its members without an additional charge. Its published fighter records list Fury at 36 wins, two defeats and one draw, with 25 knockouts, and Joshua at 30 wins and four defeats, with 27 knockouts. Both have already topped boxing events carried by Netflix: Joshua stopped Jake Paul in December 2025, while Fury earned a unanimous decision against Arslanbek Makhmudov in April 2026.

According to BBC Sport, Fury's promoter Frank Warren said White had played an important part in obtaining the Netflix agreement. The BBC had requested comment from Matchroom, Queensberry Promotions, The Ring and Netflix. It also reported that the announcement did not include an official statement from either Hearn or Warren, leaving their positions outside the broadcaster's original release.

Netflix lists a September 30 press conference, while saying the full undercard and start time will be announced later. Those outstanding event details are separate from the promotional disagreement now being aired publicly. The available reporting establishes a dispute over White's role, but does not establish that the scheduled December contest has been called off.