Eddie Hearn to meet Dana White over Anthony Joshua-Tyson Fury: ‘We might work something out’
Eddie Hearn has confirmed he is due to meet with Zuffa Boxing representatives – including Dana White – this Wednesday in Los Angeles.
This follows months of claims from White that he will be the promoter of the upcoming super fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua on December 11. White has maintained from the beginning that he will promote the event on behalf of Saudi boxing financier Turki Alalshikh. Eddie Hearn, the promoter of Joshua, has been clear that White is unable to be involved due to a clause in Joshua’s contract prohibiting him from doing so.
Boxing Scene reported earlier this week that the promoters for the event, on paper, were confirmed by the British Boxing Board of Control as Matchroom Boxing, Queensberry Promotions and Sela – Zuffa were not listed on the form.
White, who was also not present at the launch press conference for the contest earlier this week, has since doubled down on his claims, stating he is both promoting and producing the event.
“Just to be honest with you, at this point I think he's just completely cooked,” said Hearn when asked about White’s recent comments. “What he actually said was, ‘We are producing this, we're doing the TV production,’ which again in the contract is prohibited.
“After [White made those claims], I spoke to Sela and I said, ‘Have you seen this?’ And they said, ‘Yes, and it's completely untrue,’ and they told me that I'm right. He cannot do that under the contract.
“So I just think, and I've got to actually admire him because rather than just going, ‘Listen, fair play, Hearn's had me by the short and curlies’ – well, actually there's not many of those – but he goes, ‘No,’ and he just won't give up. So I've got to quite respect him. The front on him is unbelievable.
“But they want me to meet them in LA next week, which I probably will.”
Hearn confirmed that White himself would be present at the meeting, although White has since denied he will attend during his most recent press conference for Dana White’s Contender Series.
So, what is the purpose of this meeting?
“It could be to clear the air. It could be, ‘What are we going to do? Are we going to keep doing this?’ Ultimately, and I don't mean to sound arrogant, they cannot be involved in the fight unless myself and Anthony allow them to be,” said Hearn. “And they seem to be very desperate to be involved in the fight. And Turki Alalshikh wants them to be involved in the fight, and so does Netflix. And I get that, it's great for the promotion.
“So I'm not against it. I just want you to tell me and explain why. Why should I? So what's in it? What's in it for us? Once we establish that, we can make a decision.”
Hearn has maintained that he is not expecting an apology from White for his behaviour and comments in recent weeks.
“He hasn’t said anything personally offensive to me,” said Hearn. “So I'm not really like, ‘Oh, you need to apologise.’ But they're completely – and again, I'm not trying to speak with real arrogance – but they're completely checkmated in this situation. But again, I'm not going to run this battle for the next 10 weeks. I’m just legally enforcing our position.
“If you really want to be involved that badly, talk to me. Dance with me.”
Despite the verbal between Hearn and White in recent weeks, Hearn believes that progress will be made at the meeting.
”I reckon we probably might work something out,” he said. “What I said to these guys is, ‘Why should I let you be involved in the fight after everything that you've said, and the way that you've acted, and the arrogance that you've had? Why?’
“What they should have done, and what he was supposed to have done, is to go up on one of these [press conferences] and go, ‘I'm now aware of the contractual position and I'm going to step back and not get in the way. And I'm going to meet with Matchroom, Eddie, Turki Alalshikh, and we're going to see if we can find a way forward.’
“That's what he was supposed to say. And he didn't quite do it.”
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