Tyson Fury responds to concerns over Anthony Joshua fight cancellation
Yahoo Sports • 4 min read • Latest: Sep 26, 2026, 12:00 AM
Last updated Sep 26, 2026

Negotiations for the anticipated Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua fight, scheduled for December 11 at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, are under threat. Reports suggest that issues surrounding UFC CEO Dana White's involvement have caused a rift between Joshua, his promoter Eddie Hearn, and Fury. While negotiations had seemed resolved, conflicting interests emerged when Joshua and Hearn insisted on a contract clause excluding White. Fury criticized both Joshua and Hearn on social media, accusing them of cowardice and blaming Hearn’s ego for the potential fallout. As of now, the fight remains planned, but alternative options are being explored by financier Turki Alalshikh should it fall through.
- •Fury and Joshua are set for a December fight in Cardiff.
- •Negotiations are impacted by UFC CEO Dana White's proposed involvement.
- •Fury accuses Joshua and Hearn of trying to back out of the fight.
- •Alternative matchups are being considered if the Fury-Joshua bout is cancelled.
- •Hearn and Joshua have not publicly responded to Fury's accusations.
- 12:00 AMYahoo Sports — Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua reportedly in jeopardy, Fury responds to ‘s***house cowards’ Anthony Joshua and Eddie Hearn
- 12:00 AMMMA Fighting — Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua reportedly in jeopardy, Fury responds to ‘s***house cowards’ Anthony Joshua and Eddie Hearn
"Tyson Fury, in conversation with promoter Eddie Hearn | (Photo by Sportsfile/Corbis/Sportsfile via Getty Images) Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua might be off again. For most of 2026, the boxing world has been waiting for the highly anticipated superfight between British heavyweight champions Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, but over the past few months, the planned superfight looked to be in dire straits as negotiations hit a snag, primarily based on the location of the bout. Then, earlier this week, things finally appeared to be sorted, with Netflix announcing the bout for Dec. 11 at the 78,000-seat Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. Unfortunately, immediately after the announcement, more problems arose in the form of UFC CEO Dana White, who Joshua and his promoter, Eddie Hearn, insist on not being part of the event. And per reports, that might be the death knell of this fight. On Friday, boxing reporters Mike Coppinger and Chris Mannix reported that the Fury-Joshua bout is in danger of falling through due to Joshua and Hearn’s insistence on enforcing their contract, which stipulates that UFC CEO Dana White is not involved in the bout, while Turki Alalshikh, who is bankrolling the fight and is also the co-founder of White’s Zuffa Boxing, insists on having White involved. Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua could be called off due to issues, according to sources, and a replacement fight between Terence Crawford and Ryan Garcia is being considered. — Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) September 25, 2026 The “issue” that is jeopardizing Fury-Joshua is Dana White’s involvement, multiple sources told @SInow. @Turki_alalshikh, who is bankrolling the fight, wants him as a promoter. AJ and Eddie Hearn don’t, and have a contract that says Zuffa can’t be. Fight very much in peril. — Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) September 25, 2026 Following these reports, Fury took to social media to trash Joshua and Hearn for this setback. View this post on Instagram “Breaking news, Anthony Joshua and Eddie Hearn are trying to pull out of this fight. They’re saying they’re not going to fight now. They’re little shithouse cowards. It’s mainly to do with Eddie Hearn’s ego. He’s making up a million different things, and threatening they’re not going to fight, we’re not going to fight, we’re not going to fight. You little coward. AJ, pull your finger out you little white-flagged, yellow-bellied coward. “Now we’re coming home. Now I’m coming home. The Gypsy King is coming back to the United Kingdom to thrash you in front of all my fans in Wales, you absolute little nugget, bodybuilding sausage. And now you’re making a million excuses. Now you’ve got Turki Alalshikh finding alternative real men who will fight at the drop of a hat. So I hope you are happy, you little cowardly bastards. I’ve never seen anything like you. You’re pure shithouses, and this is mainly to do with Eddie Hearn’s ego. What a little prick. He’s cost us the biggest fight in boxing history. Clown.” Joshua and Hearn have yet to respond to these reports or Fury’s comments. As of now, the Fury-Joshua fight remains planned for December; however, Alalshikh is reportedly looking at other options should the bout fall through.
"Tyson Fury rips into Anthony Joshua and Eddie Hearn after latest reports of cancelling their fight
Sources
External links- Yahoo SportsSep 26, 2026, 12:00 AMTyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua reportedly in jeopardy, Fury responds to ‘s***house cowards’ Anthony Joshua and Eddie Hearn
Tyson Fury rips into Anthony Joshua and Eddie Hearn after latest reports of cancelling their fight
- MMA FightingSep 26, 2026, 12:00 AMTyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua reportedly in jeopardy, Fury responds to ‘s***house cowards’ Anthony Joshua and Eddie Hearn
Tyson Fury, in conversation with promoter Eddie Hearn | (Photo by Sportsfile/Corbis/Sportsfile via Getty Images) Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua might be off again. For most of 2026, the boxing world has been waiting for the highly anticipated superfight between British heavyweight champions Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, but over the past few months, the planned superfight looked to be in dire straits as negotiations hit a snag, primarily based on the location of the bout. Then, earlier this week, things finally appeared to be sorted, with Netflix announcing the bout for Dec. 11 at the 78,000-seat Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. Unfortunately, immediately after the announcement, more problems arose in the form of UFC CEO Dana White, who Joshua and his promoter, Eddie Hearn, insist on not being part of the event. And per reports, that might be the death knell of this fight. On Friday, boxing reporters Mike Coppinger and Chris Mannix reported that the Fury-Joshua bout is in danger of falling through due to Joshua and Hearn’s insistence on enforcing their contract, which stipulates that UFC CEO Dana White is not involved in the bout, while Turki Alalshikh, who is bankrolling the fight and is also the co-founder of White’s Zuffa Boxing, insists on having White involved. Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua could be called off due to issues, according to sources, and a replacement fight between Terence Crawford and Ryan Garcia is being considered. — Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) September 25, 2026 The “issue” that is jeopardizing Fury-Joshua is Dana White’s involvement, multiple sources told @SInow. @Turki_alalshikh, who is bankrolling the fight, wants him as a promoter. AJ and Eddie Hearn don’t, and have a contract that says Zuffa can’t be. Fight very much in peril. — Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) September 25, 2026 Following these reports, Fury took to social media to trash Joshua and Hearn for this setback. View this post on Instagram “Breaking news, Anthony Joshua and Eddie Hearn are trying to pull out of this fight. They’re saying they’re not going to fight now. They’re little shithouse cowards. It’s mainly to do with Eddie Hearn’s ego. He’s making up a million different things, and threatening they’re not going to fight, we’re not going to fight, we’re not going to fight. You little coward. AJ, pull your finger out you little white-flagged, yellow-bellied coward. “Now we’re coming home. Now I’m coming home. The Gypsy King is coming back to the United Kingdom to thrash you in front of all my fans in Wales, you absolute little nugget, bodybuilding sausage. And now you’re making a million excuses. Now you’ve got Turki Alalshikh finding alternative real men who will fight at the drop of a hat. So I hope you are happy, you little cowardly bastards. I’ve never seen anything like you. You’re pure shithouses, and this is mainly to do with Eddie Hearn’s ego. What a little prick. He’s cost us the biggest fight in boxing history. Clown.” Joshua and Hearn have yet to respond to these reports or Fury’s comments. As of now, the Fury-Joshua fight remains planned for December; however, Alalshikh is reportedly looking at other options should the bout fall through.
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