Dana White surprises Eddie Hearn with a big update on Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury after a ‘really weak’ comment
UFC president and Zuffa Boxing co-founder Dana White says he knows where the Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury fight will happen, even though Matchroom Boxing chief Eddie Hearn thinks it should be in the UK.
On August 6, Hearn, who promotes Joshua, said he believes the big all-British fight with Fury will be announced later this month. He made it clear that he and Joshua want the fight to happen in the UK and haven’t agreed to anywhere else, despite talks about New York’s Madison Square Garden as a possible location.
“I’m not going to say there’s no chance it happens in America because things can change,” Hearn told Sky Sports. “But I really feel it should happen in the UK, and we’ll do everything we can to make that happen. Joshua feels responsible to UK fans and wants to give them the fight they want.”
Most boxing fans also think the match should be in the UK since both fighters are British, and it would probably sell out Wembley Stadium. Former WBC cruiserweight champ Tony Bellew told Hearn that America isn’t interested in Joshua and Fury as much as UK fans are.
“I’m just tired of it,” Bellew said. “We keep trying to appeal to America, but they don’t care about us. America’s never really cared about boxing. They want what we have—great crowds and super passionate fans. That’s why the fight should be here.”
But despite these opinions, Dana White says the fight will happen “where the money is.”
“We’re the ones who made all the deals for this fight. I did the deal for the venue, that’s how I know where it is. We at TKO (which owns UFC, WWE, and Zuffa Boxing) handled the TV and everything,” White told Sky Sports on August 7. “At the end of the day, the money is what matters.”
White also called boxing a “mess” and said that “the Saudis are paying for the fight.” He added a sharp comment about other promoters, calling them “some of the weakest people” he’s ever met, saying their egos matter more than giving fans the fights they want to see.
“It’s all about ego with the promoters. It’s interesting. These guys are really weak.”
Joshua vs Fury will probably happen in November, but the exact date hasn’t been announced yet.