Anthony Joshua declined an offer of approximately $10 million on top of his fight purse, which would have allowed TKO Group—the parent company of UFC and WWE—to take the lead as promoter for his highly anticipated bout with Tyson Fury and to have the fight hosted in the United States, according to Eddie Hearn on Uncrowned’s “The Ariel Helwani Show” Tuesday. Instead, Joshua insisted that the fight adhere to the terms of his existing contract, which stipulates that the December 11 event be held in the UK without TKO’s promotional involvement.
This rejected proposal lies at the center of an escalating conflict between Matchroom chairman Eddie Hearn and UFC CEO Dana White regarding White’s role in the fight. Hearn revealed that someone from TKO delivered a formal written offer to a member of Joshua’s team. Hearn sees TKO’s eagerness to pay a premium to be part of Joshua-Fury as evidence of Zuffa Boxing’s underperformance since its launch in January.
Hearn remarked, “[TKO] need to convince their shareholders that Zuffa Boxing has been successful, yet their last U.S. boxing event was in July, with no shows planned in the upcoming fall months.” He explained that TKO wants to be prominently involved in the biggest fight globally to boost the perception and financial value of their new venture, which is why they offered Joshua a large sum of money to allow their participation. “This offer reflects their desperation and the value they place on being seen as involved with this event,” Hearn added.
Hearn strongly criticized Zuffa Boxing’s performance since its inception as “absolutely abysmal,” suggesting this failure is why White and his company are pushing to be included in the British mega-fight. The Joshua-Fury matchup was officially announced two weeks ago after years of anticipation, but within 48 hours, controversy flared because Netflix’s press release credited White with promotional involvement—something Hearn refused to accept.
Hearn said, “When that press release came out, trouble started because it could have been a contract breach. Netflix claimed it wasn’t their agreement, and suddenly the fight was at risk.” He noted that this issue could have been resolved weeks earlier, but egos and refusal to honor contracts escalated the problem. Furthermore, when Saudi Arabia’s SELA got involved and suggested TKO would promote the fight and attend the press conference, Hearn stood firm against it.
Despite Joshua’s apparent refusal of the $10 million offer for TKO participation, Netflix and SELA have persisted in pursuing involvement. Nevertheless, Hearn succeeded in keeping Dana White out of the initial press conference and off the list of fight promoters—a significant victory for Joshua’s team in the eyes of many fans.
Hearn told Uncrowned that he might eventually entertain White’s involvement if it benefits Joshua and Matchroom, but negotiations can only happen once their ongoing media feud ends. He explained that several weeks ago, White was encouraged to publicly acknowledge the contract clause barring his promotional role and reach out for discussions, but White refused to do so. White has continued to assert his promotional role and recently claimed UFC would manage the event’s production, a claim Hearn disputes, suggesting their conflict remains unresolved.
Many fans would relish seeing Hearn and White facing off at a press conference, something Hearn himself would welcome. Known for his sharp verbal exchanges, Hearn believes White wouldn’t stand a chance under intense questioning. “I don’t mind Dana White being at the press conference—I’d actually love it. But I want to confront him with tough questions; it would be like taking candy from a baby,” Hearn remarked. Ultimately, Hearn concluded, “White will only appear if we allow him to be there.”
Fan Take: This ongoing dispute highlights the increasingly complex power struggles behind major fight promotions, showing how business interests can directly influence the sport’s biggest events. For fighting fans, this matters because it could affect where and how we witness these historic matchups—and signals that the future of boxing’s biggest fights might hinge as much on negotiation battles as the battles inside the ring.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
