Hearn: Joshua's Fury Contract Already Breached

Eddie Hearn says Anthony Joshua's contract for the Tyson Fury fight has already been breached as organizers push to move the bout from Britain to New York, and he's now threatening to make the details public if the standoff drags on.

Hearn made the claim Saturday night at a post-fight press conference following George Liddard's win, telling reporters that Matchroom let earlier violations slide because of its relationship with the organizers behind the proposed U.S. move. That tone has clearly shifted. "There has been breaches in AJ's contract already which we've let slide because these guys are our partners and our friends, or were," Hearn said, catching himself mid-sentence on that last word.

What Does Hearn Say Organizers Are Doing Wrong?

Hearn accused the organizers of trying to cut Joshua's purse, tack on new obligations, and push terms that were never part of the original deal. His argument is straightforward: Joshua signed to fight in the UK, and switching the location to New York shouldn't mean he eats a pay cut or takes on extra work he never agreed to. "What they want to do is they want to pay Anthony Joshua less money because that's how it will work out with the difference in location. They want him to do a load of additional stuff," Hearn said, adding that he isn't ready to "blow things up" publicly, at least not yet.

Hearn also took aim at a leaked Matchroom email that listed unresolved issues in the negotiation. He believes it was deliberately passed to journalists and framed as a wish list of demands Joshua was making just to agree to fight in the U.S., when in his telling none of those items were even part of the addendum Matchroom submitted for the American move. He suggested the leak was meant to feed the narrative, pushed by the Fury side, that Joshua and Matchroom were being greedy and stalling the fight. Hearn also referenced claims that people were paid to amplify Fury's version of events, though he offered no evidence for that during the press conference.

Where Does Dana White Fit Into This?

The dispute has spilled over to include Dana White, with Hearn maintaining that the existing agreement excludes TKO and Zuffa from promoting the event, even though White has publicly called himself the promoter. Hearn said Nick Khan reached out about finding a role for TKO in the fight, but that White's public comments have complicated those conversations.

Time is running short. Hearn described the coming week as the deadline for keeping the fight on its proposed November date, with Netflix needing lead time to promote the card and Madison Square Garden in position to release the date to another event if the deal isn't locked down. Joshua remains committed to fighting Fury, but the fight's location, money, and who gets to promote it all need to be settled within days.

Betting Angle

None of this changes what sportsbooks expect on fight night if it happens, but it matters for anyone tracking the market right now. Contract disputes this close to a target date, with a broadcaster and a marquee venue both on a clock, tend to get resolved because too much money is already committed. Bettors should watch for the fight to get pulled off the board entirely if the venue standoff isn't settled within Hearn's stated window, and expect any official announcement to move betting interest fast once the date and site are locked in.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did Eddie Hearn say about Anthony Joshua's contract?

Eddie Hearn said Anthony Joshua's contract has already been breached as organizers try to move his fight with Tyson Fury from Britain to New York, though he did not detail every breach publicly.

Why is the Anthony Joshua vs. Tyson Fury fight location in dispute?

Organizers want to stage Anthony Joshua vs. Tyson Fury in New York instead of Britain, and Eddie Hearn says the move would cut Joshua's pay and add obligations not in his original contract.

Is Dana White involved in the Joshua-Fury promotion dispute?

Eddie Hearn says the agreement excludes TKO and Zuffa from promoting the Anthony Joshua vs. Tyson Fury event, despite Dana White publicly calling himself the promoter.