Eddie Hearn isn’t buying Dana
White’s explanation for missing the Tyson Fury
vs. Anthony
Joshua press conference.
Fury and Joshua are set to clash on Dec. 11 at Principality Stadium
in Cardiff, Wales. The first press conference for the fight took
place Sept. 30 at Olympia Exhibition Center in London. White has
repeatedly said he is involved in the fight alongside Turki
Alalshikh. However, Hearn has disputed White’s characterization of
his role, claiming contractual arrangements prevent White from
being involved without his approval.
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Eddie Hearns calls Dana White situation ‘one of the greatest PR
disasters in boxing’
The
Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO did not attend the press
conference in London, having cited his
Dana White’s Contender Series obligations the previous day.
Hearn remains unconvinced by that explanation. The Matchroom Boxing
chairman questioned whether White would miss a press conference for
a fight of this magnitude because of his Contender Series
obligations. Hearn believes Alalshikh wants White involved because
of their partnership but maintains that contractual arrangements
prevent that from happening without Hearn’s approval.
“That’s like me not coming today ‘cause I got the next gen Show…
It’s a load of bollocks,” Hearn told The Stomping Ground. “The
thing is this – Turki is partners with Dana and Nick Khan. He wants
them involved in the event; contractually, they can’t be unless I
allow them to be. Now these guys, Dana, etc. just played it all
wrong. I’m not even going to sit here and slag it off because
what’s happened to them over the last seven days has been one of
the greatest PR disasters in boxing.”
Hearn believes White took the wrong approach by publicly clashing
with him. He suggested that he might be open to White’s involvement
if it benefits Anthony Joshua and Matchroom.
“I don’t even have to go in on them,” Hearn continued. “What I
would tell you and I don’t want to be condescending like some
people are and tell you how to do things but all you had to do was
say, ‘We understand there is a contract in place that [prevents] us
from being involved; we’re going to get together with Eddie Hearn
and Turki Alalshikh and we’re going to discuss it.’ If you can tell
me a reason that I should allow these people into the fight and it
benefits Anthony Joshua and Matchroom, let’s chat.”