The war of words between boxing’s most prominent promoter and the face of the UFC has reached a boiling point. Eddie Hearn did not mince his words on Thursday, labeling Dana White "absolutely clueless" after the UFC CEO claimed he was the lead architect behind the long-awaited heavyweight clash between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.

White’s comments, delivered at a press conference last Saturday, suggested that Hearn had been sidelined entirely. White claimed he knew the location of the fight and insisted that Hearn had no hand in the contract negotiations. It was a direct challenge to Hearn’s authority in the sport. Hearn’s response was swift. He called the claims bizarre and desperate.

The Reality of the Contract

Hearn insists he holds the keys. He told ESPN that he spent three months negotiating the deal alongside SELA and Turki Alalshikh. According to Hearn, White is not just wrong; he is entirely disconnected from the legal reality of the bout.

"Dana White has no clue what is in that contract," Hearn said. He went on to clarify that Zuffa Boxing and TKO Group are contractually barred from any promotional involvement in the event. Furthermore, Hearn revealed a critical detail: the contract mandates that the fight must take place in the United Kingdom.

A Pattern of Interference

This is not a one-off spat. The tension between the two has been simmering since White launched Zuffa Boxing earlier this year. The rivalry turned personal when Zuffa signed Conor Benn, a fighter Hearn had promoted since his professional debut.

White’s aggressive expansion has hit legal walls. Golden Boy Promotions recently issued a cease-and-desist to Zuffa Boxing to halt interference with Ryan Garcia. DAZN followed suit with their own legal warning. Hearn views this as a pattern of behavior. He described White and his organization as "complete control freaks" who disregard existing contracts.

What Comes Next

Despite the noise, the path to the ring remains clear. Hearn confirmed that the fight is targeted for November at Wembley Stadium. The condition is simple: both fighters must win their upcoming bouts. Joshua is scheduled to face Kristian Prenga on July 25, while Fury is expected to take an interim fight later this summer.

Key Takeaways

  • Eddie Hearn explicitly denied Dana White’s claim that he is leading negotiations for the Joshua-Fury fight.
  • Hearn stated that the contract contains a clause requiring the fight to be held in the United Kingdom, likely at Wembley Stadium in November.
  • Zuffa Boxing is currently facing multiple cease-and-desist orders from promoters and broadcasters regarding their recruitment tactics.

White has yet to respond to the latest accusations. The silence from Zuffa Boxing is notable. For now, the fight remains in Hearn’s hands. Whether White continues to insert himself into the narrative remains the biggest question in the sport. We will see if he backs down or doubles down when the next press conference rolls around.