Joshua backs Hearn to pull plug on Fury fight if Dana White dispute forces the issue

Anthony Joshua has pledged to stand behind promoter Eddie Hearn — even if that means walking away from his long-awaited heavyweight showdown with Tyson Fury — as a bitter dispute between Hearn and Dana White continues to cloud the December 11 fight in Wales.

“My loyalty’s with Eddie, so whatever he wants to do, if he wants to pull the plug, I’ll be right there tugging that plug with him,” Joshua told talkSPORT Boxing.

The feud centres on White’s claim that he holds a significant promotional role in the Fury-Joshua bout, a position Hearn flatly rejects, insisting signed contracts formally exclude the UFC president from any involvement. White was absent from Wednesday’s press conference in London, yet his name alone drew a chorus of boos from the crowd. Hearn described White’s handling of the situation as “one of the greatest PR disasters in boxing.”

Despite the public friction, Joshua was clear that the fight itself must happen, pointing to the obstacles already cleared to get both men into the same ring. Securing a UK venue and enrolling both fighters in the VADA drug-testing programme were among the sticking points that had to be resolved before contracts were finalised.

“It has to happen. There’s no better time than now. What else would I have done? Who else would I have fought?” Joshua said.

Both fighters are at the later stages of decorated heavyweight careers, having held multiple world titles and shared the ring with the best of their generation. The bout has been years in the making, repeatedly falling through for contractual and logistical reasons before finally being confirmed for a UK venue.

Joshua said bringing the fight to Wales carries real weight for his legacy and for British boxing. He also reflected on the turbulent year that preceded it, referencing a difficult opening round in his most recent contest before rallying to win by knockout, as well as tense contract negotiations that saw him receive what he described as personal messages from unnamed “higher powers.”

“Getting this fight over to the U.K. is something that we fought for,” Joshua said. “It’s been a battle this year in general just to be sat here.”

With both camps publicly committed and the promotional dispute yet to produce any formal breakdown, cancellation remains unlikely — but Joshua’s comments make clear that his allegiance, should it come to a choice, sits firmly with Hearn.