Tyson Fury has enrolled in VADA drug testing, clearing one of the issues that put his first face-off with Anthony Joshua in doubt ahead of Wednesday’s press conference in London.
Fury’s manager confirmed to Sky Sports that he signed up six days earlier than required. Eddie Hearn and Joshua had questioned when Fury would enroll, while Fury’s team said it would happen once the fight was official.
The press conference is set for Wednesday, September 30, at 6pm BST at British Airways ARC at Olympia. Sky Sports reported that Fury, promoter Frank Warren, Joshua and Hearn are all expected to attend. It will be the first time the two heavyweights share a stage since the fight was announced for December 11 at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, streaming globally on Netflix.
Testing was only one of two flashpoints. Netflix’s announcement said The Ring and Dana White would collaborate on promoting the event, and Hearn told IFL TV that White cannot be involved under the contract, adding that Netflix “didn’t get the memo.” Hearn also told Sky Sports over the weekend that nothing was confirmed for the press conference, saying “there wouldn’t be one without us.”
White said he did not know whether the press conference or the fight would go ahead. Tuesday’s reports do not say the dispute over his role has been settled, and White has not said whether he will attend.
Fury put the chances of the fight happening at one per cent on his Furocity YouTube channel on Saturday, and said alternative opponents were being considered. In the same interview, he said he still expected the fight to happen because he’d heard the other side had already been paid. It followed his accusation that Joshua and Hearn were trying to pull out.
Mike Coppinger of The Ring reported that both fighters are in camp and that Turki Alalshikh spent the past 48 hours pushing to keep the fight on track. The Ring has also reported that the bout will be for the WBA “super” heavyweight title.
