Fury Joshua WBA title: Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua will have a heavyweight world title at stake when they finally meet later this year, although the Fury Joshua press conference is seemingly in doubt.
Fury and Joshua will deliver their long-overdue heavyweight clash on December 11 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, live on Netflix.
Saudi Arabian boxing chief, Turki Alalshikh announced the bout on Thursday.
Hours later, the Alalshikh-owned Ring Magazine reported the WBA ‘super’ heavyweight title will be on the line, although the WBA is yet to officially confirm this.
Gassiev unhappy with Fury Joshua WBA title news
However, the plans seemingly overlook current WBA heavyweight champion Murat Gassiev.
Gassiev captured the title with a sixth round knockout over Kubrat Pulev in December. Then he stopped Peter Kadiru in a first defence in July.
Following the report of Fury and Joshua contesting a ‘super’ championship, Gassiev’s co-promoter Ivaylo Gotsev is seeking clarification from the governing body.
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“We are formally seeking clarification from the WBA and, where applicable, enforcement of Murat’s rights under its rules and regulation,” Gotsev of Epic Sports said.
“The WBA has a proud history in heavyweight boxing, and the Super Champion designation should strengthen that legacy — not create uncertainty around the position of an existing World Champion.
“There is already a WBA Heavyweight World Champion. His name is Murat Gassiev.”
Fury Joshua press conference
Organisers have called a Fury Joshua press conference for next Wednesday in London. Although, AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn has cast doubt over it taking place
Thursday’s announcement ended months of speculation over where the fight would take place.
Saudi organisers and Netflix were pushing to stage it at Madison Square Garden in New York. Meanwhile, Hearn insisted it had to take place in the UK, in line with the contract Joshua signed in April.
In addition to this, Hearn has been involved in a heated back-and-forth with Dana White, who said he brokered the deal for MSG and Netflix.
Hearn claimed White can have no involvement. However, a Netflix press release on Thursday named him as part of the fight.
With the dispute ongoing, Hearn has claimed the Fury Joshua press conference may not go ahead as planned.
“Dana White cannot be involved with this fight promotionally,” Hearn told IFLTV.
“Netflix clearly didn’t get the memo. No one talks to each other. I speak to Sela and Turki [Alalshikh].
“[They say] ‘no, Dana White is not involved in the fight. You’ve got a contract that says that. He won’t be at the presser’ and then Netflix say the fight is in conjunction with Dana White.
“We’ve got a lot of stuff to still sort out around the fight.”
