Dua Lipa or no fight: Strange Saudi demand shocks Fury–Joshua plans
Dua Lipa performance (photo: instagram.com/dualipa)
Boxing backroom circles have once again been shaken by a high-profile statement from the main investor in modern boxing, Turki Alalshikh. Despite a history of disrupted events due to premature announcements, the head of Riyadh Season has officially announced the long-awaited clash between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. However, the fight between the two Britons on home soil is now in doubt due to a very specific demand from the Saudi sheikh, according to IFL TV.
Announcement without a date
The super-investor continues to ignore past mistakes, announcing fights before all contracts are signed. This time, he revealed the Fury vs Joshua bout, despite no confirmed location and the fact that Anthony Joshua must first defeat Albanian fighter Christian Prenge.
Tyson Fury’s promoter Frank Warren has already fueled interest, stating that the mega-fight could take place as early as October 2026. The main candidate to host the event is London’s Wembley Stadium, but the final decision remains with the Saudis.
NO DUA LIPA, NO FURY VS AJ IN LONDON
— IFL TV (@IFLTV) April 28, 2026
Yes, you read that correctly.
Turki Alalshikh has reportedly told Netflix that Fury vs Joshua will ONLY take place in London if singer Dua Lipa performs at the fight
Who knew that Turki Alalshikh was a big Dua Lipa fan ey!… pic.twitter.com/GCZkrXxS3W
What does Dua Lipa have to do with it
The most controversial detail is Alalshikh’s condition for holding the fight in England. According to insiders, the investor is willing to move the event from Riyadh to London only if pop star Dua Lipa performs at the opening of the event.
Why exactly the British singer became a key element in negotiations over one of the biggest boxing matches of the year remains a mystery. At the same time, it is known that the broadcast rights for the massive show have already been purchased by streaming giant Netflix, promising an unprecedented level of media coverage.
