Former heavyweight world champions, Fury and Joshua have a long running rivalry and are finally set to meet in an all-British mega-fight.
Sky Sports had previously reported that Saudi financier Turki Alashikh – who is staging the fight – had stipulated that he needed Dua Lipa to perform at the event.
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Even though Dua Lipa is now not expected to accept that invitation, Fury-Joshua will not be derailed and an alternative will be found.
Event organisers will still start to look for “an iconic UK act” to feature in the event.
Fury’s manager Spencer Brown, who promoted his comeback fight at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, told Sky Sports: “I’m sure that British fans will get over it.
“We’d still like to pursue an iconic UK act on the show. Someone like Noel Gallagher, Robbie Williams, Manic Street Preachers, Elton John or even Rod Stewart – but that’s entirely up to Turki Alalshikh and Netflix because without them none of this would be possible.
“I’m sure one of these artists would love to take her place. It’s going to be an iconic night of British boxing, a fantastic spectacle.
“Please be sure the fight will happen on what will be the biggest night and the biggest fight British boxing has ever seen.”
Dua Lipa is an internationally renowned singer who has performed at high profile sporting events before – she was part of the opening ceremony for the 2018 Champions League final.
Fury vs Joshua will be a similarly high-profile event, dubbed the biggest fight in British boxing history, with Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Wembley among the venues touted. While Dua Lipa headlined her own Wembley show last June, she has never performed at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
It was announced this week that Fury vs Joshua would take place before the end of 2026. Though the date and venue have not yet been confirmed, AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn has declared the fight “signed, sealed, and delivered”.
First Joshua has set his official return to boxing with a July 25 match up against Kristian Prenga.
A decade of missed chances – How Joshua and Fury never happened before
Joshua and Fury, two of the biggest names in British boxing, have circled one another for the best part of a decade. Fury first became a heavyweight world champion when he upset Wladimir Klitschko a decade ago. Joshua turned professional after winning Olympic gold at London 2012 and rocketed through the pro ranks.
But by the time Joshua picked up his first world title belt in 2016, Fury had stepped away from the sport.
Fury would eventually return and beat Deontay Wilder to become the WBC world champion. Joshua held the unified IBF, WBO and WBA championships and the two were close to fighting in an undisputed heavyweight championship fight.
It was not to be, Fury boxed a third fight with Wilder instead and Joshua lost to Oleksandr Usyk. The Ukrainian also defeated Fury, who retired again at the start of last year.
When Fury returned to beat Arslanbek Makhmudov in London earlier this month, Joshua was waiting for the all-clear to resume full training after sustaining injuries in a terrible accident in which two of his close friends and members of his team lost their lives. Joshua is now in camp working with his former rival Usyk, who has backed AJ to beat Fury.
With one more hurdle to clear for Joshua, Kristian Prenga on July 25, the two rivals will finally box in the most richly anticipated heavyweight bout the UK will have ever seen.
While the exact date and location of the contest is yet to be confirmed, hopes will be high for another British stadium fight.
