Fury fight only goes to US if Joshua agrees new terms - Hearn

Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury are contractually committed to staging their all-British heavyweight fight in the UK, says Eddie Hearn - and any attempt to move it to the United States would need Joshua's team to agree new terms.

The Matchroom promoter - who represents Joshua - said if his team did not agree to any potential new terms, the fight would still "100%" go ahead in the UK this year.

Despite growing speculation Las Vegas could stage the contest, Hearn has had no formal request from Saudi powerbroker Turki Alalshikh to move the bout outside the UK.

"We've got a great relationship with Turki Alalshikh," Hearn told BBC Sport.

"If he comes to me and says, I want to do the fight in America for this reason, we'll all be very disappointed because I don't think there's a person on the planet that doesn't think this fight should take place in the UK.

"But he's paying the bill and the bill is extortionate. So you've got to find a way to make it work. So, if they want to change anything in the contract, we have to renegotiate the contract and start again."

Hearn also rejected Dana White's claims that he would promote the event, saying Zuffa Boxing has no current role in the fight unless Joshua's side agrees to change the contract.

Frank Warren, Fury's promoter, told BBC Sport earlier this week a meeting would soon take place between different promoters to determine the date and location of the contest.

Hearn said he expects that meeting to happen next week but stressed the only thing that can stop the bout is Joshua losing to Kristian Prenga on 25 July or Fury being beaten in his own proposed interim fight, which is mooted to take place on 1 August.

"I'm 100% confident it happens in 2026 unless someone gets beat," Hearn added.

Despite being past their peak, two-time world champions Joshua, 36, and Fury, 37, remain two of British boxing's biggest crossover stars of their era.

The super-fight has been orchestrated by Alalshikh, with Joshua and Fury's teams dealing directly with the Saudis over their contracts.

Hearn says neither Matchroom nor Warren's Queensberry can act as lead promoter because it would give one fighter's side an advantage over the other.

UFC chief White, the president of Zuffa Boxing, has said he is central to staging the fight, saying he knows the date, location and that he would promote it.

Fury was present at the UFC's White House show on 14 June and teased a "massive announcement" from White before revealing he would be promoted by Alalshikh. Warren later told BBC Sport that Queensberry would continue to promote Fury alongside Alalshikh.

"The contract clearly states that Dana White and Zuffa Boxing, or anyone associated, cannot be the promoters of this event," Hearn said.

"The only way Dana could have any involvement in the show is if we let him. And it's not really how I'm feeling at the moment."

Hearn believes White's comments stemmed from Alalshikh asking him to explore the financial viability of staging the fight in Las Vegas, and that the UFC president then overstated his role in the event.

Asked if he could change his stance on White's involvement, Hearn added: "Money changes a lot of things."

Hearn and White have also built up a public rivalry since Zuffa Boxing entered the sport. White has signed Conor Benn, who was previously promoted by Matchroom.

Alalshikh has suggested next week's meeting will include peace talks between the two, but Hearn feels his rivalry with White is "the best thing" that has happened in his career as a promoter.

"I would be disappointed if Turki Alalshikh makes us find peace, because I want war," he added.