FRANK WARREN DROPS CONTRACT BOMBSHELL THAT STOPS DANA WHITE FROM PROMOTING ANTHONY JOSAHUA VS TYSON FURY

 

Frank Warren has poured cold water on Dana White's claims that he will promote Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury.

Warren told assembled media on Saturday night, after Daniel Dubois' gutsy stoppage win over Fabio Wardley, that it is contractually impossible for the Zuffa Boxing chief to be involved in such a capacity.

Joshua and Fury have signed to fight each other after their respective tune-up fightsCredit: Getty

"Well, he's not [promoting Joshua vs Fury] because the contract with Tyson says that Zuffa will not be able to promote that fight," said Warren.

"I don't know [where he has got that from]. Ask him. I mean, it is just b******."

When Warren's comments were put to White at the Zuffa Boxing 06 post-fight press conference on Sunday, he quipped: "Then he must be right."

"I'm going to leave that alone," he added. "Apparently, I'm not the promoter, according to some people."

Queensberry vs Zuffa Boxing

Earlier this year, Warren threatened legal action against Saudi Arabian state-owned entertainment and hospitality company Sela and TKO Group Holdings, the American media conglomerate that owns the UFC and WWE.

TKO inked a five-year partnership with Sela and Saudi powerbroker Turki Alalshikh to form Zuffa Boxing last year.

Warren alleged in a 'letter before action' sent to relevant parties that the joint venture breached contracts that his promotional outfit, Queensberry, had signed with the Saudis and TKO.

Queensberry claims to have signed an exclusive deal with Sela in September 2023 to provide boxing services.

Warren's company says it also reached a separate agreement with TKO, granting the sports giant access to Queenberry's online data, including details of its contract with Sela.

Queensberry alleges that TKO and Sela used privileged information to go behind its back to create their new entity.

Warren has threatened legal action against TKO and SelaCredit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom

There has been no development on the case since February, when it was revealed Warren was preparing legal action.

Alalshikh and Warren sat next to each other at ringside for Fury's comeback fight with Arslanbek Makhmudov, and will work together for Joshua vs Fury, which is being targeted for the back end of the year after both men participate in tune-up fights.

Discussing the current state of his relationship with the Saudis during a recent appearance on the Ariel Helwani Show, Warren said: "Riyadh Season for me was a blast, everyone cooperated to put on some great shows, and I enjoyed it.

"But things are what they are, and you have to keep evolving and moving on.

"They are talking about Agit [Kabayel] fighting [Oleksandr] Usyk, and Agit is with us, so if that is going to happen, then we are going to have to work together on it.

"The same with Hamzah Sheeraz, it's the same thng."

- George Glinski

JOE JOYCE BELIEVES HE WILL REPEAT THE WIN OVER FILIP HRGOVIC: "I LOOK FORWARD TO KNOCKING HIM OUT ON SATURDAY NIGHT"

Joe Joyce vs Filip Hrgovic press conference quotes

The leading cast for the ‘Heavy Impact’ card that will take place on Saturday at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester gathered at the venue today for the final press conference ahead of fight night, being broadcast live on DAZN.

Joe Joyce goes up against Filip Hrgovic in the headline attraction, with the British heavyweight title being fought for between David Adeleye and Jeamie TKV.

Frank Warren

“Saturday is a new era for us, we are on DAZN and we will be seen worldwide, which is a great, great showcase for all the fighters. We are competitive, like the boxers and certainly like the rest of the promoters on DAZN, we aim to be the best and put the best shows on and our start is a fabulous one.

“The main event between Joe and Filip is a cracker of a fight, it is a fight with jeopardy involved where the winner will go on and the loser will have a hard, hard task to get back into the mix at the top. We all know what is on the line and they know that better than anybody else in this room. So I am looking forward to a great fight and a fabulous, fabulous undercard.”

Joe Joyce

“It is a great fight, entertainment, and I expect a great performance. It is good to share the ring with Hrgovic again, we had a good scrap last time about 12 years ago. The same result is going to happen, I’m going to win and then get elevated back up to the top of the sport. I am really excited to be here again, there is a lot of excitement here and it is going to be a great night of boxing.

“I know exactly what to expect from him and I have worked with Abel [trainer, Sanchez] before. He’s got a lot of mileage and has been in the sport a long time and had a lot of hard fights. I look forward to knocking him out on Saturday night.”

Filip Hrgovic

“Are we still main event after this? It was short notice, a few weeks, but I was already in good shape. That is why I accepted this fight and I think this is a good opportunity for me. This win, hopefully on Saturday, brings me back to the top and it is good to be part of this.

“Thanks to Queensberry and DAZN and I am looking forward to the win on Saturday, to knock him out and get back to the top. That is the plan. My motivation is big, for sure. I want to be back at the top and, like Frank said, the loser will be in a very bad position. I don’t want to lose.

“Man he is 40 years old. If he is 39 then he is young, I didn’t know that. Look, he is definitely not in the peak of his career, fighters get older and that is the reality, I am seven years younger. I think it will play a role in this fight.”

Jeamie TKV

“I am even more excited about this fight, To be honest, I am offended. I am offended by David’s behaviour. He knows me and I know him and the way he has been going about talking I am offending. The way he has been behaving is very disrespectful. I don’t take that lightly and I’m going to show him on Saturday.

“This persona that he is putting on, this bad boy persona. We are both educated men, both raised by great parents. So what are you? An academic gangster? I don’t know where this persona comes from my brother. You say you are going to knock me out, but when I say it I am being disrespectful?

“You are taking it personally that I am taking this fight. I see a scared man and I know when I see a scared man. What happened at Talksport was he couldn’t get to me, he tried saying I had lost too much weight and wouldn’t hold his shots. He got frustrated because I’m not reacting to him, so he decided to pipe up for no reason. He tried to pull up in my face."

David Adeleye

“All this educated gangster, I am just being myself. Of course it is personal, we are fighting in 48 hours. You don’t see a scared man, where do you see fear in me? Scared of what?

“You can ask me what happened at Talksport on Monday, I just cussed his weight, I cussed his appearance and he is obviously insecure about it. He’s got this cameraman, this Harry Hill looking guy recording and editing in a certain way. I did want to take this fight, me and you spoke on the phone and your managers were calling mine. What are you talking about?

“You called me and said I know you’re going to do Dacres and after that you were saying ‘you’re the truth’. Your manager said to me there is nothing for Jeamie, nothing going on for Jeamie and we know he ain’t getting nothing. Let’s be real about it. You’re a bitch. Every time I fight security come because they know I’m on smoke, with you there is no security.”

Delicious Orie

“I am just happy to be here, to be honest. When I started boxing in 2016 I saw Joyce win his silver medal, Hrgovic his bronze, David Adeleye and Jeamie TKV doing their thing as elite amateurs, so I was looking up to these guys. Here I am sat with them at the table, on the same card, I am living life at the moment.

“It will be different, there is a slight adaptation and for the last eight years I have just been focused on the Olympics, so for the last three months I have been working with Grant Smith in Sheffield just working on digging in a little bit more, planting my feet, getting used to the smaller gloves as well. I just can’t wait to put it all together this Saturday.

“Professional boxing is different. As an amateur I go in there to score the points to get my hand raised. It is different now, I actually have to hurt my opponent. That is the kind of spite I have been talking about.”

- Tim Rickson

ANTHONY JOSHUA VS. DANIEL DUBOIS: IBF SET FOR APRIL 2025 REMATCH DEADLINE DATE FOR ANY SECOND HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP BOUT

A potential rematch between Daniel Dubois and Anthony Joshua would have to happen by April 22 next year, according to the IBF's rules; Dubois' mandatory title defence is likely to be against the winner of Martin Bakole's IBF final eliminator against Agit Kabayel.

The IBF will permit their heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois to rematch Anthony Joshua. But there is a deadline on it.

A Dubois vs Joshua would have to happen before a date in April of next year.

Dubois knocked out Joshua last month at Wembley Stadium in sensational style to defend the title.

For Dubois, who was elevated from Interim titlist to world champion prior to that fight, the contest with Joshua was actually a mandatory title defence.

Under the IBF's rules, Dubois now has nine months within which he can make a voluntary defence, opening the door for a Joshua rematch, as long as it happens by April 22.

Rule 5.A.2 of the IBF's regulations regarding the heavyweight division states that "all optional defences, and any and all other bouts, by a champion shall be concluded at least 60 days prior to the date the champion's mandatory is due".

After this date, Dubois must fulfil a mandatory title defence, which is likely to be against the winner of Martin Bakole's IBF final eliminator with Agit Kabayel.

Dubois will be notified on approximately April 22 of his June 21 mandatory.

The IBF regulations state the champion "shall be obligated to mandatorily defend his championship within intervals of no more than nine months against the leading available contender in the heavyweight division as designated by the championships chairman".

The IBF has, however, stated that Dubois would be free to pursue a unification bout after this date.

The only unification fight available to Dubois would be against the winner of the Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury rematch and thus a shot at the undisputed heavyweight title.

Usyk will fight Fury in Saudi Arabia on December 21, with the WBC, WBO and WBA belts at stake.

Plans for AJ vs Dubois II?

In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports, Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, which stages the Riyadh Season events, revealed that a major fight card is being put together that will pit rival promoters Queensberry and Matchroom against each other.

In June Queensberry beat Matchroom in a '5 vs 5' team match. A second version of that event is being worked on for February which could involve the Dubois-Joshua rematch.

Previously Alalshikh told Sky Sports: "See in February again Queensberry against Matchroom, 5 vs 5, we will finish it maybe this week with a big surprise and then let's see the result about this fight, the result of the big fight December 21, [Oleksandr] Usyk-Tyson [Fury].

"Joshua, Dubois, Tyson, Usyk, everyone, everyone on the line.

"This is what we want. We want the big fights and to see who's really the best fighters in each division."

Matchroom's Eddie Hearn, who promotes Joshua, previously told Sky Sports: "I know that he is leaning towards the rematch because he wants to win the world heavyweight title.

"Fighting [Deontay] Wilder, [or] waiting for Fury, and then you've got all next year bubbling around not really fighting for the world heavyweight title.

"If it's solely down to AJ, which it will be at the end of the day, I think it's going to be very hard to talk him out of taking the rematch."

- skysports.com