Eddie Hearn insists Dana White is “out of the picture” concerning Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury after being accused of sabotaging the fight as talks shift towards Cardiff as a potential venue.
The promoters and fighters have hit a wall in negotiations over a number of issues in recent weeks with broadcasting partner Netflix eager for the fight to take place in the United States to better capture the American market.
But with the original signed contract stating the location would be in the United Kingdom, Hearn and Joshua have pushed back on the proposed change of plan, seeking an addendum to better compensate themselves and avoid losses.
But UFC and Zuffa Boxing supremo White took another swipe in his ongoing feud with Hearn on Thursday night ahead of Ryan Garcia v Conor Benn, claiming that he has “never seen somebody do more damage to a fight.”
White also warned that talks could collapse to end the prospect of the two biggest names in British boxing this century, adding that partners could “walk away” and accept a stalemate in negotiations.
“We’re literally right f***ing there [at the point of ending talks and the prospect of the fight taking place],” White told IFL TV. “It gets to the point where it’s silly now. Let’s f***ing fight, right?”
And a bullish White continues to insist, “it’ll be me,” when asked who is the promoter of the highly-anticipated fight, but Hearn is adamant he is not part of the event at all.
Hearn told The Independent: “Unfortunately for Dana he has now realised two things. 1. He has nothing to do with the fight, 2. Joshua signed a contract to fight in the U.K. and that’s where he wants the fight to happen.
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“Now that Dana is out of the picture we are moving forward with Netflix and SELA to find a suitable date in the U.K. We have a signed legally binding contract to fight Tyson Fury in the U.K. and we have not backed down from that position.
“Still some work to do, but hopefully some incredible news coming for British fight fans soon… keep your fingers crossed.”
With Hearn adamant the fight should not take place at Madison Square Garden in New York, The Times reported that Cardiff and the Principality Stadium has been floated as an alternative, with its roof able to assist with the colder conditions of a British winter in November or December.
But despite the prospect of lifting a curfew that could block the fight taking place at Wembley at a peak US time, the prospect of the fight taking place in the early hours of 21 November could be complicated by the Welsh rugby team’s planned test match with Australia just hours later with a 8:10pm GMT kick-off.
