Fury vs Joshua in doubt over Dana White's role as Fury calls Joshua and Hearn 'cowards'

A day after the Cardiff date was announced, reports say the fight is at risk because Turki Alalshikh wants Dana White as a promoter and Joshua's contract rules him out. Fury says Joshua and Eddie Hearn are trying to pull out.

Tyson Fury against Anthony Joshua is in danger of falling through less than two days after it was announced for 11 December at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. Sources told Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix that the issue is Dana White's involvement, theScore reported: Turki Alalshikh, who is bankrolling the fight, wants the UFC boss promoting it through Zuffa Boxing, while Joshua and Eddie Hearn do not, and have a contract that says Zuffa cannot be part of it. The Ring's Mike Coppinger also reported that the bout could be called off.

Fury responded on Friday in a video on social media. "Breaking news, Anthony Joshua and Eddie Hearn are trying to pull out of this fight," he said, as reported by MMA Fighting. "They're saying they're not going to fight now. They're little sh*thouse cowards. It's mainly to do with Eddie Hearn's ego."

He called Joshua a "white-flagged, yellow-bellied coward" and a "bodybuilding sausage", and said Alalshikh was now "finding alternative real men who will fight at the drop of a hat". Of Hearn, he said: "He's cost us the biggest fight in boxing history. Clown." He also said: "This is all because Eddie doesn't want someone in the building. Isn't that a bit pathetic and childish?"

It is the latest turn in a row that has run all year. Hearn has insisted since Thursday's announcement that White cannot be involved, and on Friday Fury said he had removed the same clause from his own contract so that White could be. Our timeline of the Dana White and Eddie Hearn row has how it got here.

Alternatives are already being discussed. Coppinger reported that Terence Crawford against Ryan Garcia is being considered as a replacement if Fury against Joshua falls through, with Fury against David Benavidez another option. Joshua and Hearn had not responded to the reports or to Fury's video when MMA Fighting published.

For now the fight remains scheduled for Friday 11 December in Cardiff, live on Netflix. Our Fury vs Joshua page will carry any change.

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