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Fury vs. Joshua promoters confirm Zuffa out of bout

Dustin JudgeDustin Judge
Tyson Fury in the ring.

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua’s superfight remains set for Dec. 11 after both camps resolved a contractual dispute over Dana White’s involvement in the promotion. Turki Alalshikh, Ring Magazine and Netflix are confirmed as the promoters—Zuffa Boxing and White are not, resolving days of tension between Joshua’s camp and Fury.

The Fury vs. Joshua promoters agreement ends a standoff that nearly derailed boxing‘s biggest heavyweight bout. Joshua’s camp insisted their contract explicitly prohibited Zuffa from promoting the fight, and negotiations confirmed that exclusion. Fury initially pushed back publicly, but both sides reached consensus by late September.

The contractual standoff

When Netflix announced the fight on Sept. 24 for Dec. 11 at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, a news release stated the event would be a partnership involving Dana White. Joshua and Hearn’s contract prohibited Zuffa from any formal role in promoting the bout, and that language immediately triggered their objection.

Hearn told ESPN that White “cannot be involved with this fight promotion” and their contract stipulated as much. The disagreement threatened to collapse the deal entirely, with reports indicating Alalshikh was exploring alternative opponents for Fury should negotiations fail.

Fury responded to the impasse with a social media outburst, claiming Joshua and Hearn were “trying to pull out of the fight” and criticizing both men’s commitment. After a 48-hour negotiating period, the fight returned to track and both camps appeared together at a press conference on Wednesday, Sept. 30 at London’s British Airways Arc.

What the confirmation means

The settled promoter roster removes ambiguity about who is bankrolling and organizing the bout. Alalshikh, the Saudi government official who co-founded Zuffa Boxing with White, remains the financial backer. Ring Magazine and Netflix handle media and broadcasting for what is set to be the biggest heavyweight bout in modern British boxing history.

Zuffa’s exclusion reflects Joshua’s contractual stance. Alalshikh, who co-founded Zuffa with White, bankrolls the fight, but the promotion itself and White have no formal role in its organization—a boundary Joshua and Hearn enforced to finalize the deal.

What’s next

The fight is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 11 at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, with Netflix handling the broadcast. The winner will claim the WBA “super” heavyweight title. Fury enters at 36-2-1 with 25 knockouts; Joshua at 30-4 with 27. Start time and undercard remain unannounced.

Reporting from Yahoo Sports, ESPN, MMA Fighting and Bleacher Report contributed to this story.

Dustin Judge

Dustin Judge is the Founder and CEO of Total Apex Media, bringing more than 20 years of writing and editorial experience to the company's growing network of digital publications. He specializes in sports, sports betting, fantasy sports, and digital publishing, with a focus on producing accurate, timely, and engaging content for readers. Dustin oversees editorial strategy, content development, and publishing operations across Total Apex Media while remaining actively involved in sports, betting, and fantasy sports coverage.