![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/comp-1790876488.png\")
\n\t\tDua Lipa has somehow found herself caught up in the Joshua-Fury saga thanks to comments fromTurki Alalshikh (Picture: Getty\/Reuters)<\/p>\n
\t\t
\n\t\tDua Lipa has somehow found herself caught up in the Joshua-Fury saga thanks to comments fromTurki Alalshikh (Picture: Getty\/Reuters)<\/p>\n
Dua Lipa<\/a> fans have been left baffled and disgusted by a boxing promoter\u2019s comments after the pop superstar was unexpectedly dragged into the launch of Anthony Joshua<\/a> and Tyson Fury\u2019s long-awaited fight.<\/p>\n Saudi boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh made the bizarre comments about the 31-year-old singer during Wednesday\u2019s launch press conference for Anthony Joshua<\/a> and Fury\u2019s heavyweight showdown.<\/p>\n The two British fighters finally came face-to-face after years of false starts, with their Battle of Britain now officially scheduled for December 11 at Cardiff\u2019s Principality Stadium.<\/p>\n However, while explaining why the fight had ended up in Wales rather than London, Alalshikh suddenly turned his attention to Dua.<\/p>\n \u2018I will be honest today, I know that London wouldn\u2019t give me the stadium until 2am,\u2019 he told the crowd.<\/p>\n He then claimed Dua would not perform at the event because \u2018she doesn\u2019t like boxing\u2019 and suggested \u2018maybe she doesn\u2019t like me\u2019.<\/p>\n \t\t After somebody in the crowd appeared to respond, Alalshikh went further, saying: \u2018No, I think she has something with the Arab. And, you know, it is my blood. I cannot change it.\u2019<\/p>\n There is no evidence Dua\u2019s decision not to perform had anything to do with Alalshikh\u2019s ethnicity, and she has not publicly explained why she declined the offer.<\/p>\n Unsurprisingly, the unusual tangent left viewers wondering how on earth Dua had found herself being discussed at a boxing press conference in the first place.<\/p>\n \u2018Sombody plz explain why dua lipa is getting brought up at a boxing match,\u2019 one bewildered fan wrote on X.<\/p>\n \t\t Another criticised the suggestion behind Alalshikh\u2019s comments, writing: \u2018The way hes blaming a whole ethnicity cause she said no to a boxing match is actually insane behavior. like bro shes albanian she probably just doesnt care about your event \ud83d\ude2d.\u2019<\/p>\n \u2018Bro this is just embarrassing\u2026.\u2019 someone else said, while another declared: \u2018She\u2019s honestly such an icon he\u2019s embarrassing himself.\u2019<\/p>\n A fifth viewer was even more unimpressed, writing: \u2018Ugh, she was right not to go this whole speech was disgusting.\u2019<\/p>\n Dua\u2019s potential involvement in the fight has actually been a strangely persistent subplot to the Joshua-Fury saga.<\/p>\n Earlier this year, Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia\u2019s General Entertainment Authority, was reported to be particularly keen on getting the Levitating hitmaker involved in the event.<\/p>\n \t\t At one point, he even suggested she needed to perform at the fight if it was to go ahead in London.<\/a><\/p>\n It was unclear how seriously that apparent ultimatum was intended, but BBC Sport subsequently reported that Dua had indeed been approached about performing and had declined the offer.<\/p>\n She is therefore not expected to provide the soundtrack when Joshua and Fury finally settle a rivalry that has been a decade in the making.<\/a><\/p>\n Big-name musical performances have become increasingly common at major boxing events backed by Alalshikh.<\/p>\n Liam Gallagher<\/a> performed at Wembley<\/a> Stadium before Joshua\u2019s 2024 world-title fight against Daniel Dubois<\/a>, while Eminem performed ahead of Terence Crawford\u2019s fight with Israil Madrimov that same year.<\/p>\n \t\t Dua or no Dua, Joshua and Fury are now preparing for one of the biggest all-British fights in recent memory after years of negotiations repeatedly falling apart.<\/p>\n Joshua has not fought since his December victory over Jake Paul, breaking the YouTuber\u2019s jaw in the sixth round.<\/a><\/p>\n Fury, meanwhile, came out of retirement earlier this year and comfortably outpointed Arslanbek Makhmudov<\/a> in April.<\/p>\n The pair were considerably more cordial than many might have expected when they finally faced off in London, with Fury praising his rival\u2019s career and both men joking on stage.<\/p>\n Somehow, it was Dua Lipa who ended up providing the controversy.<\/p>\n Representatives of Dua Lipa have been contacted for comment. <\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"Heavyweight](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/SEI_314813602-84ac.jpg\")
\n\t\tAnthony Joshua and Tyson Fury finally came face-to-face ahead of their December showdown (Picture: ZUMA Press\/Cover Images)<\/p>\n![\"Dua](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/SEI_311611885-bd12.jpg\")
\n\t\tDua previously turned down an offer to perform at the blockbuster boxing event (Picture: Gilbert Flores\/Variety via Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"epa13273419](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/SEI_314748958-2d6f.jpg\")
\n\t\tTurki Alalshikh made the remarks during Wednesday\u2019s launch event (Picture: EPA)<\/p>\n![\"Editorial](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/SEI_314846400-48a0.jpg\")
\n\t\tSomehow, Dua Lipa became one of the biggest talking points at the pair\u2019s press conference (Picture: Sharkey\/TGS Photo\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n
\nMORE: Anthony Joshua wins first round against Tyson Fury with bombshell claim about uncle Peter<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMORE: Jim Carrey, 64, secretly marries longtime girlfriend in private ceremony<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMORE: Jacob Elordi confronts paparazzi on date night with Kendall Jenner in Paris<\/a><\/p>\n