Dana White credited Eddie Hearn for ensuring the upcoming heavyweight bout between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua will take place in the UK, despite an ongoing feud and previous pushes by organizers to host the fight in the United States.
The heavyweight clash between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua is officially slated for December 11 at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, with fighters not expected to enter the ring until the early hours of December 12. The journey to a UK venue involved intense friction between promoters, fighters, and broadcast partners who initially favored the American market.
The Tug-of-War Over Venue and Contractual Rights
Negotiations for the bout hit significant roadblocks as broadcasting partner Netflix and Saudi Arabian organizers pushed to stage the event at New York’s Madison Square Garden to better capture the U.S. market. However, Joshua and his promoter, Eddie Hearn, refused to budge from the original signed contract, which stipulated that the fight would take place in the United Kingdom.
Hearn maintained that Joshua turned down millions more to fight in America because of his commitment to British boxing fans and the integrity of his signed agreement. As talks shifted toward Cardiff, potential scheduling complications arose due to a Welsh rugby test match against Australia scheduled at the stadium.
Matchroom chairman Eddie Hearn noted that the psychological warfare and head games of fight promotion reach a different level in the buildup to this particular matchup, pointing to Tyson Fury’s bold speech and perceived bluster. According to Hearn, Fury’s demeanor masks a deeper insecurity and fear of losing to Joshua’s immense physical presence and knockout power, noting that Fury may try to exploit the moment Joshua was dropped twice before knocking out Kristian Prenga in the second round of his previous fight.
Dana White’s Promotional Role and Public Feud With Hearn
The dispute extended beyond geography into promotional control.
White publicly criticized Hearn during the buildup ahead of a Ryan Garcia versus Conor Benn event, claiming he had never seen somebody do more damage to a fight and warning that partners could walk away from a stalemate. Despite the fiery rhetoric, White ultimately acknowledged Hearn’s persistence in securing the UK location.
Fury and Joshua Appear Together in London
Concerns over the event’s viability eased when Fury and Joshua appeared together at a news conference on September 30. Ahead of the media appearance, both heavyweights traveled to London for a secretive photoshoot for Netflix.
