Fury Confirms White Could Promote Joshua Fight
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- Tyson Fury appeared as a special guest at the UFC White House show on Sunday, wearing a 'Donald Trump for Prime Minister' cap, and teased a 'massive, massive announcement' from Zuffa Boxing and UFC president Dana White
- Fury confirmed '100% potential' for White to promote his long-awaited bout against Anthony Joshua, targeted for the end of 2026, calling it 'over a decade in the making'
- Zuffa Boxing, White's Saudi-funded venture looking to rival established promoters, made its first major move by signing Conor Benn from Matchroom in February and has since added IBF cruiserweight world champion Jai Opetaia
- Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren, promoters of Joshua and Fury respectively, have repeatedly shot down White's claim of promoting the bout; Warren was considering legal action over Zuffa's February launch
- White wants to amend the 2000 Muhammad Ali Act to recognize a Zuffa belt as a legitimate world championship title, removing the need to work with other sanctioning bodies
- Joshua must first win his 25 July bout against Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia before the Fury fight can happen, while Fury has a 'potential fight in August' after his April return from retirement
Why it matters: The Fury-Joshua fight has been 'over a decade in the making,' and White's claim to promote it has been repeatedly rejected by Hearn and Warren — making White's pursuit a direct challenge to boxing's established promotional structure. If White succeeds, Zuffa Boxing would land boxing's most lucrative matchup without working with the other sanctioning bodies, potentially via amendments to the Muhammad Ali Act to recognize a Zuffa belt as a legitimate world title.
