Contract signed, Joshua vs Fury fight still on, Eddie Hearn insists

Anthony Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, has asserted that the highly anticipated heavyweight clash between Joshua and Tyson Fury is proceeding as planned. This assurance comes despite recent statements from Fury suggesting the fight might not happen, which had cast fresh uncertainty over the bout.

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We've signed the contract, we're waiting for a date. You saw Tyson Fury shouting and screaming … There’s nothing to shout and scream about, the fight’s done.

Hearn confirmed that both boxers have signed their respective contracts, effectively locking in the agreement. He emphasized that neither fighter can unilaterally withdraw from the deal, as doing so would constitute a breach of contract. "The fight's signed. No one can pull out of the fight. You can't just pull out of a contract," Hearn stated in an interview with DAZN.

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The fight's signed. No one can pull out of the fight. You can’t just pull out of a contract.

With the contracts finalized, the focus has shifted to determining the official date and venue for the fight. While a November date has been discussed, the location remains a point of negotiation. Both Joshua and Fury have agreements with Saudi Arabian-owned boxing promoter Sela, which is a key organizer for the event.

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There’s no suggestion that the fight’s not happening, no one can stop this fight from happening. The only way it can stop from happening is if they actually breach the contract.

Hearn indicated that while Sela reportedly favors staging the fight at Madison Square Garden in New York, Joshua's camp would prefer the bout to take place in the United Kingdom. This venue issue is one of the primary outstanding matters for a fight that has been years in the making. Hearn previously maintained that Joshua's contract includes a provision for a UK staging, though terms might need renegotiation if held abroad.

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We know everybody and his dog involved in the fight wants to do the fight in America. We don’t. We’ve told Sela and the team if you want to do it in America, these are the terms that we can move forward with. But we’d rather not please.