Anthony Joshua is unlikely to leave his Dubai training camp for Wednesday’s London press conference unless Tyson Fury enrolls in drug testing, according to The Sun. That gives Joshua a way to pressure Fury and the fight’s organizers: they need both men on stage to launch an event this big.
Joshua’s side expected both fighters to enter the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association’s testing pool when their contracts were signed. The Sun reported that Fury had still not enrolled as of 1 p.m. Monday. Fury’s team previously said it would contact VADA once the fight was officially finalized.
“Testing was supposed to start when the original contracts were signed. And it didn’t for them,” Eddie Hearn said, as quoted by The Sun. Hearn added that Fury may not have been required to enroll at that point under his own contract.
That is the weakness Joshua is pressing. If the two contracts set different deadlines, Fury may be within the terms he signed. Joshua can still argue that a fight of this size should have both men undergoing the same testing before they stand together and sell it to the public.
Joshua has already posted an email from VADA asking whether Fury would enroll. A missed press conference would be harder for organizers to brush aside. They can explain a contract discrepancy, but they cannot put Joshua beside Fury for photographs if Joshua stays in Dubai.
The Sun also reported that Fury did not hold a British Boxing Board of Control license as of Monday morning and therefore was not being tested through the board’s UK anti-doping program. That describes his reported testing status; it does not establish why he had not renewed his license. Hearn and Joshua have not accused Fury of doping.
Joshua’s move could force a quick answer without threatening the fight itself. If Fury enrolls, the dispute loses much of its force, and the promotion can move ahead. If he does not, Wednesday’s stage may show just how much influence Joshua has over the rollout.