Tyson Fury recently voiced his skepticism about the prospect of his much‑talked‑about showdown with Anthony Joshua, estimating that there is merely a one‑percent chance that the fight will actually happen. The heavyweight champion made these remarks during a candid interview on his YouTube channel, Furocity, where he was asked to put a percentage on the likelihood of the bout proceeding.
He answered plainly, “One per cent.” He then explained his reasoning, pointing out that a fight can only go ahead if both participants are willing to step into the ring. “If you’ve got a guy that wants to fight, yeah, and you’ve got a guy that doesn’t want to fight, then how are you going to make that fight happen?” Fury asked. He reminded viewers that he has spent more than a decade at the top of the sport, competing in nearly 40 professional bouts and facing a long list of champions for a variety of titles. Yet, whenever the conversation turns to a clash with Joshua, the negotiations invariably stall.
The background to this drama is that, after months of protracted talks, an official announcement was finally made on a Thursday that the all‑British heavyweight clash would be staged at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on Friday, 11 December. The deal was said to involve Saudi financier Turki Al‑Alshikh’s promotion company, The Ring, and the UFC president Dana White, who both pledged to co‑produce the event. However, Eddie Hearn – the promoter who handles Joshua’s affairs – has publicly disputed the involvement of the American promoter, insisting that White’s role is either minimal or non‑existent. In the days following the announcement, the situation grew more tangled.
After Johnny Fisher’s win at the Copper Box, Dana White took to the microphone and said, “I’m involved in the fight. If Eddie Hearn really cared about this fight, it would have happened a long time ago. He could finance it himself. I’ve said this a million times – sell tickets, cut a TV deal and sell the fight.” Yet White later admitted that he was uncertain whether the bout would ever materialise.
“I don’t know,” he confessed. “The guy who’s supposed to be helping the fight has been hurting it the entire time.
He hasn’t done the fight any favours, let’s put it that way. We’ll all know more in the next three or four days.” Fury also revealed that his original plan was to host the contest in Ireland’s Croke Park – a venue that has only seen two boxing matches in its 142‑year history.
He said he had even signed a contract for that location, adding, “If I’d have stuck to my contract, this fight wouldn’t have happened, would it? There’s nothing I haven’t agreed to, nothing. I’ll even tie concrete blocks to my boots to make this fight happen. There’s nothing that I wouldn’t do to make this fight happen.” Despite his earlier pessimism, Fury concluded the interview on a slightly more hopeful note, noting that the contracts that have already been signed and the money that has reportedly been paid suggest the fight could still go ahead.
“I do think it’ll happen because from what I’m hearing, they’ve been paid already. So the fight’s got to happen. Not unless Joshua wants to give the dough back, which I can’t see them wanting to do.” The saga of the Fury‑Joshua showdown illustrates how heavyweight boxing in the United Kingdom can become entangled in a web of promoters, financiers, and venue negotiations.
The fight, billed as the biggest British heavyweight clash in history, has been delayed repeatedly, with each new development raising fresh doubts. While Fury’s one‑percent estimate underscores his frustration, the fact that contracts have been signed and deposits made means the situation remains fluid.
Fans and pundits alike are left watching a drama that unfolds both inside and outside the ring. The involvement of high‑profile figures such as Dana White and Turki Al‑Alshikh adds an international dimension, while Eddie Hearn’s insistence on keeping the promotion strictly under his control highlights the tension between traditional boxing promoters and newer, cross‑sport investors. If the bout does finally take place at the Principality Stadium, it will likely draw a massive crowd and generate significant pay‑per‑view revenue, given the stature of both fighters. However, the lingering uncertainty – amplified by Fury’s candid one‑percent comment – suggests that the final outcome may still hinge on negotiations behind the scenes, contractual obligations, and the willingness of both fighters to commit fully.
Until the next official statement, the boxing world will continue to speculate, hoping that the promised December date does not turn into another footnote in the long‑running saga of a fight that seems perpetually on the brink of collapse.