The long awaited heavyweight showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua has taken another major step towards reality after Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, confirmed that the fight has been signed and remains contractually binding.
Hearn’s statement comes after Fury raised fresh doubts about the blockbuster all British contest, claiming that the fight appeared unlikely to happen because of disagreements surrounding the financial terms and proposed location. Despite Fury’s public frustration, Hearn insists that the agreement remains firmly in place and that neither fighter can simply walk away from it.
The proposed clash has been one of boxing’s most anticipated fights for years. Fury and Joshua are two of Britain’s most recognisable heavyweight stars, and their rivalry has generated enormous interest even before they have shared a professional ring.
According to Hearn, the contracts have been signed, meaning the fight is not merely dependent on ongoing negotiations between the two fighters. He stressed that the only way the contest could collapse would be through a breach of the contractual agreement.
“The fight’s signed. No one can pull out of the fight,” Hearn said, making it clear that recent public disagreements have not cancelled the contest.
However, significant questions remain over where the fight will take place. The original agreement was understood to favour a venue in the United Kingdom, but discussions have increasingly focused on the possibility of staging the contest in the United States, with Madison Square Garden in New York among the venues linked to the event.
The proposed change of location has become one of the major sources of tension. Joshua’s camp has concerns about the financial implications of moving the fight from Britain to America, while Fury has expressed his willingness to compete in the United States.
The venue dispute has also contributed to the confusion surrounding the fight’s proposed November date. Although the heavyweight blockbuster has been linked with a November date, an official venue and final event details have yet to be publicly confirmed.
Fury recently intensified the situation by suggesting that the fight was in danger of collapsing. The former heavyweight champion criticised Joshua and Hearn over the negotiations and questioned why additional financial demands were being discussed.
Hearn, however, has rejected the idea that the fight is simply disappearing. He maintains that Joshua remains committed to the contest and that the signed agreement provides a strong legal foundation for the bout to proceed.
The disagreement has created an unusual situation in which the fighters appear to be committed to meeting, but the organisers are still attempting to resolve important details surrounding the event.
The stakes are enormous because Fury versus Joshua represents a rare meeting between two fighters who have dominated the British heavyweight scene for much of the modern era. Both men have held heavyweight world titles and built huge international followings, making their eventual meeting one of the biggest commercial events boxing can produce.
Fury returned to action earlier in 2026 after a period away from the sport and defeated Arslanbek Makhmudov by unanimous decision. His comeback victory strengthened expectations that he would finally face Joshua after years of negotiations and failed attempts to make the fight.
Joshua has also remained active as he continues his own comeback campaign. The Nigerian British heavyweight has recorded victories in his recent fights and has repeatedly expressed his desire to settle the long running rivalry with Fury inside the ring.
The potential fight has already attracted major commercial interest, with Saudi Arabia’s boxing investment network and Netflix linked to the event. The involvement of major financial and broadcasting partners reflects the enormous global audience expected to watch the two British heavyweights finally meet.
For boxing fans, Hearn’s latest comments will provide some relief after Fury’s recent remarks created fears that the fight could collapse once again. The contract being signed represents an important development, although the unresolved venue and financial issues mean there is still work to be completed before the event can be officially finalised.
If the remaining disagreements are resolved, Fury and Joshua could finally settle one of the biggest unfinished rivalries in modern heavyweight boxing.
For now, Hearn’s message is clear: the fight has been signed, and despite the noise surrounding the negotiations, he believes the Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua blockbuster remains firmly on course.
