Eddie Hearn has said UFC boss Dana White is “totally cooked” as the row surrounding the promotion of the upcoming Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua showdown continues to rumble on.
Hearn and his Matchroom Boxing organization are promoting Joshua, while Frank Warren represents Fury but White – backed by Saudi champion Turki Alalshikh – and the Zuffa Boxing diamond stable are involved in the production of the heavyweight fight to be broadcast on Netflix.
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Hearn was dead set on this, since the start and White was not at the press conference Wednesday for the British blockbuster, which he claimed was due to a commitment to come the day before the UFC’s Contender Series.
White has confirmed he will be on the ground in Cardiff on December 11 for the fight itself but Hearn – who released a video compilation which went viral on social media this week of White giving various confused and contradictory answers about the bout – has now reached out to his undisputed rival Mars again.
“To be honest with you, at this point, I think he’s just completely cooked,” Hearn said of the UFC supremo at a press conference in Birmingham following Ben Whittaker’s victory over Conor Wallace on Saturday evening.
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“He also said, ‘We do TV production,’ which again is prohibited in the contract.”
“I’m not going to drop that [compilation] I see by the way what I was thinking, you know what? I will leave this now.’ I really started to feel bad for him…
“And I woke up” [White’s comments response] and I thought to see you fall so far. After seeing that, I spoke to Sela. [Saudi events company]and I said: Have you seen his commentaries? But they said: Yes, it is, and it is true. They told me by writing. He can’t do that out of a stipulation.”
Eddie Hearn is adamant that Dana White is not involved with the fight (PA)
On Saturday night, White was at UFC 332, where Natalia Silva was crowned as the new UFC women’s flyweight champion, and she responded to Hearn’s latest comments in defiant fashion.
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“I’ll be there,” White said of his potential presence at the Fury-Joshua fight on Dec. 11. “They were producing the show. Like Canelo [Alvarez vs Terence] Crawford [in September 2025]the same
“Craig Borsari, Zach [Candito]my whole team – we’ll put on a show. I’ll have my phone bill on the table, like tonight and every other night, and every other show that I eat.”
Hearn is offered the smallest of white olive branches, not only praising his defiance, but suggesting that there will be a meeting in Los Angeles between the parties next week to iron out their differences, and perhaps intervene to reach some suitable conclusion.
Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua met in a press conference Wednesday (PA Wire)
“I’ve got to be really surprised,” Hearn said of White. “Because rather than just going, ‘Listen, game game. Hearn’s got me short and curly.’ Actually, there are not many, but it turns out, no; And don’t give up soon.
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“So I’m keeping quite a watch and awe, which is incredible on the front. But they want to meet in LA next week, which is likely.
“He might clear the air. He might say, ‘What are we going to do?’ Are we going to do this?’ Finally, I don’t mean to sound arrogant. [White] I cannot take part in the battle, unless I allow myself and Antony to be.
“They seem desperate to get involved in the fight, and the Turks [Alalshikh] He wants them to be involved in a fight, and to do Netflix. And I come, like, it’s great for promotion. So I’m not against it – I want you to say it and explain why. What shall I report? What is in Antonio? What is in it for us? Once we decide, we can make a decision.”
Dana White insists no meeting with Hearn has been set up (AP)
White immediately poured cold water on any suggestion of an amicable agreement, insisting that no such meeting had been arranged.
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“I heard nothing about the meetings last week.” “Among whom? What did he meet me about? I answered all of this question. It is the same as it has been since we have been talking about this for a long time.”
“I don’t hear anything until you guys tell me in press conferences. I don’t care.” [who did the deal]. I will be there. That’s why. I promote it. I will see you in Wales.”