Chronological coverage updated 1st October 2026 19:06.
Update 1 · 1st October 2026
Dua Lipa Dragged into Joshua-Fury Boxing Launch After Promoter's Bizarre Comments
Pop superstar Dua Lipa found herself unexpectedly at the centre of controversy following the launch press conference for Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury’s long-awaited heavyweight fight. During the press event, Saudi boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh made several unexpected remarks about the 31-year-old singer while explaining why the British fighters' clash was moved from London to Wales.
The fight between Joshua and Fury, dubbed the Battle of Britain, was officially confirmed for December 11 at Cardiff's Principality Stadium after years of false starts and negotiations repeatedly falling apart. While discussing venue arrangements, Alalshikh noted that London authorities would not permit the stadium to remain open past 2am, before turning his attention to Lipa's absence from the event lineup.
Metro reportedly quoted Turki Alalshikh (Chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority) as saying: “I will be honest today, I know that London wouldn’t give me the stadium until 2am”.
Alalshikh told the assembled audience that Lipa declined an offer to perform at the fight, alleging she does not like boxing and suggesting personal motives behind her refusal. When an audience member responded, Alalshikh made further claims regarding her motivations.
Metro reportedly quoted Turki Alalshikh (Chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority) as saying: “No, I think she has something with the Arab. And, you know, it is my blood. I cannot change it.”.
There is no evidence indicating that Lipa's decision to decline the performance offer was connected to Alalshikh's ethnicity, and the singer has not issued a public statement explaining her choice. Lipa had previously been approached by event organizers after reports emerged earlier in the year that Alalshikh considered her appearance vital to hosting the bout in London, though BBC Sport later confirmed she turned down the offer.
Fan Reaction and Event Context
Boxing fans and Lipa's supporters reacted with bewilderment and criticism on social media platforms, describing the promoter's speech as embarrassing and uncalled for. Viewers questioned why a pop artist was being criticized during a major sports announcement, noting that musical acts such as Liam Gallagher and Eminem have previously performed at Alalshikh-backed boxing cards.
The heavyweight fight between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury is officially scheduled for December 11 at Cardiff's Principality Stadium..
Both fighters approached the launch cordially despite their decade-long rivalry. Joshua enters the fight following a December victory over Jake Paul in which he broke the YouTuber's jaw in the sixth round, while Fury recently returned from retirement to score a point decision victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov in April.
- Turki Alalshikh faced criticism for making personal claims about Dua Lipa after she turned down an offer to perform at the Joshua-Fury fight.
- Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury will officially fight on December 11 at Cardiff's Principality Stadium.