Frank Smith expresses hope for Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury announcement soon
Bad Left Hook • 3 min read • Latest: Sep 18, 2026, 1:20 PM
Last updated Sep 18, 2026

Frank Smith of Matchroom discussed the ongoing negotiations for the Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury fight during a recent interview. Despite signed contracts, venue disagreements have prolonged the announcement. Dana White's recent criticisms of Eddie Hearn added tension to the situation. Smith remains optimistic that a resolution will come soon, ideally for a UK location, as time is becoming a factor to promote the fight effectively this year.
- •Smith confirms contracts for the fight have been signed.
- •Ongoing venue disputes delay the official announcement.
- •Dana White has criticized Hearn, suggesting conflicts in the negotiations.
- •Smith hopes for an announcement soon to ensure proper promotion.
- •Time is critical as the year progresses and plans need to solidify.
- 1:20 PMBad Left Hook — ‘I’m hopeful we get an announcement soon’: Frank Smith discusses the dragging Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury negotiations
- 1:20 PMYahoo Sports — ‘I’m hopeful we get an announcement soon’: Frank Smith discusses the dragging Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury negotiations
"Matchroom’s Frank Smith just recently caught up with iFL TV to discuss the state of the much discussed showdown between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury. Despite contracts supposedly having been signed, there’s been on ongoing dilemma with regards to the venue for the fight, and with Dana White recently lashing out at Eddie Hearn, Smith shares some of his perspective on things. Smith on Dana White accusing Eddie Hearn of trying to hurt the Joshua vs Fury fight “Dana White is frustrated because Dana White has been trying to get his way into a fight that he has absolutely no involvement with. And now it looks like it’s going to backfire on him, so now the only thing he can do is try and paint Eddie in a bad light by saying he’s doing harm to the fight. “The reality is Anthony Joshua, Matchroom, we signed for the fight in the UK. We have a signed contract for the fight to take place, we’ve done everything we said we’d do. Dana’s frustration is about ‘it’s about making the most money for the fighters’ this, that and the other — it’s like, since when do you care about paying the fighters? You pay 17% of your revenue to UFC fighters. “You care about yourself. And ultimately we’re in an ego-driven sport, where the reality is this is Dana’s ego because he said ‘I know where the fight is.’…And then what he’ll do, is when the fight gets announced as Timbuktu — just making up a location because I’m not going to say where it could be — but he’ll go ‘I knew it was in Timbuktu, I always knew, and I’m the promoter.’ You’re not.” On his confidence level this all gets resolved and goes forward “It’s been going on so long, but like all these questions of like ‘when are we going to get an announcement, when is this going to happen?’ — every time I’ve been asked that I’ve been going ‘it’s got to be in the next week.’ And we’re at a point where for this year we’re cutting very fine, aren’t we? You know, to promote a fight of that magnitude in the right manner, get it all together, takes a lot of work. “I’ve always been confident about our position because our position was very clear…I’m hopeful we get to see it in the UK and I’m hopeful we get an announcement soon.”
"Frank Smith admits time is running short to stage an AJ vs Fury fight this year.
Sources
External links- Bad Left HookSep 18, 2026, 1:20 PM‘I’m hopeful we get an announcement soon’: Frank Smith discusses the dragging Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury negotiations
Matchroom’s Frank Smith just recently caught up with iFL TV to discuss the state of the much discussed showdown between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury. Despite contracts supposedly having been signed, there’s been on ongoing dilemma with regards to the venue for the fight, and with Dana White recently lashing out at Eddie Hearn, Smith shares some of his perspective on things. Smith on Dana White accusing Eddie Hearn of trying to hurt the Joshua vs Fury fight “Dana White is frustrated because Dana White has been trying to get his way into a fight that he has absolutely no involvement with. And now it looks like it’s going to backfire on him, so now the only thing he can do is try and paint Eddie in a bad light by saying he’s doing harm to the fight. “The reality is Anthony Joshua, Matchroom, we signed for the fight in the UK. We have a signed contract for the fight to take place, we’ve done everything we said we’d do. Dana’s frustration is about ‘it’s about making the most money for the fighters’ this, that and the other — it’s like, since when do you care about paying the fighters? You pay 17% of your revenue to UFC fighters. “You care about yourself. And ultimately we’re in an ego-driven sport, where the reality is this is Dana’s ego because he said ‘I know where the fight is.’…And then what he’ll do, is when the fight gets announced as Timbuktu — just making up a location because I’m not going to say where it could be — but he’ll go ‘I knew it was in Timbuktu, I always knew, and I’m the promoter.’ You’re not.” On his confidence level this all gets resolved and goes forward “It’s been going on so long, but like all these questions of like ‘when are we going to get an announcement, when is this going to happen?’ — every time I’ve been asked that I’ve been going ‘it’s got to be in the next week.’ And we’re at a point where for this year we’re cutting very fine, aren’t we? You know, to promote a fight of that magnitude in the right manner, get it all together, takes a lot of work. “I’ve always been confident about our position because our position was very clear…I’m hopeful we get to see it in the UK and I’m hopeful we get an announcement soon.”
- Yahoo SportsSep 18, 2026, 1:20 PM‘I’m hopeful we get an announcement soon’: Frank Smith discusses the dragging Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury negotiations
Frank Smith admits time is running short to stage an AJ vs Fury fight this year.
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