Online Reporter
The pair of former heavyweight world champions confirmed and announced their overdue grudge match for December 11 in Cardiff.
But just 24 hours later, Fury comically claimed the fight was in jeopardy over White’s apparent inclusion in the promotion.
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has always maintained AJ’s deal stated the bout MUST take place in the UK and could not have White’s involvement.
White’s side argue the stipulation related to only Zuffa Boxing and the TKO Group that owns the UFC —not the 57-year-old American individually.
Fury says Hearn is threatening to pull AJ out should White be involved — leaving the Battle of Britain hinging on a messy contractual war.
But White himself remains adamant he will be a part of the bout — despite no history with either fighter over their decade-long feud.
He told reporters after Johnny Fisher’s win over Michael Pirotton in London last night:
“We’re promoting the fight right now. And and what I’ve said 150,000 times, I don’t know if I’ve ever known anybody who’s more full of f***ing s*** than Eddie Hearn.
“I’m done! ‘If, f***ing when, who, whatever.’ This guy is full of f***ing s***. I’ve been saying the same thing since way back when and and here we are.”
SunSport was in attendance during White’s meltdown and probed the UFC boss on whether he would be prepared to step away from the fight if the bout hinged on it.
He hit back:
“Well, that’s not up to me. I’m involved in the f***ing fight!”
Asked who it is up to then, the Donald Trump-backed promoter seethed:
“I know what you’re doing.
“You’re asking leading questions. ‘F***ing no. Oh, really?’ You just get here? Hi, welcome to boxing.
“Did you just f***ing walk in from across the street with your cell phone and you don’t know anything about this sport or what’s going on and, ‘Who the f*** are you, and how’d you end up in this?’
“Do you have any other questions that are relevant to this evening or anything else?”
We did not.
White and organisers including Netflix and Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh initially pushed for the bout to take place in America.
And White boasted about cutting a deal with New York’s iconic Madison Square Garden to help generate a greater US viewership.
But Hearn stood firm on Joshua’s legally binding contract that guaranteed the fight had to take place in the UK.
Although it means fans look set to compromise with a later 2am ringwalk time to accommodate prime-time American audiences.
White also admitted he had no involvement in the booking of Wales’ Principality Stadium —which vitally has a roof to cover the venue.
He said: “Did I do the deal for Cardiff? That the question? Meaning, did I call and negotiate the deal? No, I did not.”
A press conference is scheduled for Wednesday but Hearn cast doubt on whether it will happen amid the dispute over White’s involvement.
And White said: “I have no idea. Yeah, no idea. We will see…
“If Eddie Hearn really cared about this fight, first of all it would have happened a long time ago, number one.
“Number two, he could finance the thing himself. The guy who’s supposed to be helping the fight has been hurting the fight the entire time.
“We’ll all know more in the next three or four days.”
Fury gave an interview on his own YouTube channel to suggest there was just a ONE PER CENT chance the fight happens.
Sources from inside Joshua’s camp assure they have no plans to pull out and remain confident the £150million super-fight will go ahead. — Sun.
