Dua Lipa has turned down an offer to perform at the highly anticipated heavyweight showdown between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury later this year, according to reports. The London-born singer was approached by Saudi financier Turki Al-Sheikh, who is reportedly a huge fan and had stipulated her performance as a condition for the fight to proceed.
Joshua and Fury recently agreed terms and signed contracts for a long-awaited Battle of Britain, though a date and venue are yet to be confirmed. Al-Sheikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority and a key figure in boxing, has hinted the fight could take place in London. However, Joshua must first face little-known opponent Kristian Prenga in a warm-up bout in July, while Fury may also take a tune-up fight this summer.
BBC Sport reports that the 'Levitating' hitmaker has declined the offer after an approach and is not expected to be involved. It remains unclear how serious Al-Sheikh's ultimatum was, but previous events backed by him have featured major musical acts, including Liam Gallagher, Eminem, Busta Rhymes, and 50 Cent.
The fight between Joshua and Fury has been years in the making, with previous attempts to stage it falling through. While both fighters are past their peak, the bout is still expected to be one of the biggest in British boxing history. Joshua last fought in December, defeating Jake Paul, while Fury returned from a 14-month retirement in April with a win over Arslanbek Makhmudov.
