Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury’s first press conference is set to go ahead in London on Wednesday with progress being made in resolving a number of issues.
An official announcement for the long-mooted ‘Battle of Britain’ finally came last week, with Cardiff’s Principality Stadium hosting the heavyweight bout on 11 December, which will also be streamed live on Netflix.
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The clash has been plunged into major doubt, however, over the weekend after Ring Magazine journalist Mike Coppinger reported that it could be called off due to unspecified “issues”.
But proceedings now appear to be back on track and a launch press conference will be held at the British Airways Arc at the Olympia, as was suggested last week but not confirmed by Eddie Hearn.
Tyson Fury (pictured) and Anthony Joshua will trade barbs in their first press conference on Wednesday (PA)
The press conference will begin at 6pm BST, which will see Fury and Joshua trade verbal blows before facing off for the first time.
There is still some uncertainty around the fight with animosity between the promoters involved – or perhaps not involved – being a key sticking point.
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The potential involvement of Dana White – the UFC president who runs Zuffa Boxing – is thought to have proved a stumbling block, with Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn insisting White not be part of proceedings. This was contrary to Turki Alalshikh’s announcement on Wednesday, which read that White “will collaborate to promote this historic showdown”.
White lashed out at reporters who questioned him about his role in the fight on the weekend after commentator Max Kellerman downplayed his involvement on a Zuffa fight card, saying he is just working as an assistant to Alalshikh.
Fury then threw the bout into further question when he sensationally claimed the super-fight with Joshua may now be off, accusing his rival of being a “yellow-bellied coward”.
The ‘Gypsy King’ said on Instagram: “Breaking news, AJ and Eddie are trying to pulling out of the fight.
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“It’s mainly to do with Eddie Hearn’s ego. He’s making up a million different things. AJ, pull your finger out you little white-flagged, yellow-bellied coward. Now you’ve got Turki Alalshikh finding alternative real men who will fight at the drop of a hat. So I hope you are happy you cowardly b*****ds.”
Anthony Joshua was branded a ‘yellow-bellied coward’ by rival Fury (PA Wire)
In a second video, he also indicated that White’s presence was a key issue, saying: “So Eddie Hearn’s ego is trying to cost us and all the boxing fans around the world, the fight the whole world has been waiting for over a decade.
“And it is all because Eddie doesn’t want someone in the building. It’s pathetic and childish. He doesn’t want him in the building, like he’s nine year-old. You silver-spooned w****r.
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“And Joshua, you ought to be ashamed of yourself. I’ve agreed to fight different locations for you. I had a contract, if I had stuck to that contract there would have been no fight. But I’m a fighting man. That’s the difference. You little cowards.”
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