Netflix Drawn Into Hearn Dispute Over Dana White Fury-Joshua Involvement

Eddie Hearn says he will contact Netflix after the streaming service named Dana White as a promotional collaborator for Tyson Fury’s fight with Anthony Joshua, despite what Hearn says is a contractual restriction preventing the Zuffa Boxing boss from taking that role.

The British heavyweights are scheduled to meet at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on 11 December, with Netflix carrying the fight globally. Announcing the event, the platform said: “HE Turki Alalshikh’s The Ring and Dana White will collaborate to promote this historic showdown.”

Hearn told IFL that he had since spoken to Alalshikh, who, according to the Matchroom chairman, confirmed that White was not involved in promoting the fight. Hearn also claimed Netflix had not been informed of the restriction concerning Zuffa Boxing and indicated that he would raise the matter directly with the company.

The issue predates Netflix’s announcement. Frank Warren said in May that White could not promote the contest because of an agreement involving Fury.

“He’s not [promoting Joshua vs Fury] because the contract with Tyson says that Zuffa will not be able to promote that fight,” Warren said.

Hearn later made the same distinction during an interview with talkSPORT. “You’ve got to remember, Dana White told the world he’s the promoter of the event,” he said. “He’s not, he can’t be, and he won’t be.”

Hearn did not rule out White being involved in another capacity. “Now, if he comes in as a representative or an advisor for Tyson Fury, I guess they could sneak him in on that team,” he said, while insisting: “The promoter of the event is Turki Alalshikh.”

White, in Netflix’s announcement, did not define his role but welcomed the confirmation of the fight. “For more than a decade, boxing fans have been clamouring for the heavyweight showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua,” he said. “On December 11, two of the biggest heavyweights of this generation finally collide– and the winner will take a significant place in heavyweight history.”

The dispute follows lengthy talks over where the fight would be staged. Madison Square Garden in New York was considered, but Hearn and Joshua pushed for the contest to take place in Britain before Cardiff was selected through negotiations led by Alalshikh.

Hearn has since criticised White and Zuffa Boxing over the unsuccessful proposal to take the fight to the United States. He has questioned what became of White’s previously claimed venue agreement and rejected the suggestion that Zuffa’s involvement would bring additional value to Joshua’s side.

There is also disagreement over how the contest has been billed. Hearn said there was no mutual agreement for Fury’s name to appear before Joshua’s in the official announcement.

Hearn confirmed during a Matchroom YouTube stream that the fight does not include a rematch clause. The broadcast is due to begin at 8pm in Britain and 3pm Eastern Time, with the main-event ring walks expected between 1am and 1.30am in Britain, or between 8pm and 8.30pm Eastern Time.

The undercard has yet to be confirmed, although Hearn is pushing for former world champion Joe Cordina to provide Welsh representation against either Abdullah Mason or Shakur Stevenson. Cordina has previously been scheduled to face both men, but neither fight took place.

A first face-to-face press conference has been announced for next Wednesday, September 30, at British Airways Arc in London, although Hearn has now cast doubt on whether it will proceed

“If there is a press conference next week,” Hearn told IFL TV when asked about the event.

Asked why it might not take place, Hearn said: “There’s still stuff to sort out. We’re not gonna come and do a press conference until – you got to understand, so far in the contract that we signed, there has been about six breaches.

“We keep letting these guys [get away with it]. We give them the benefit of the doubt, we act in good faith but they don’t. We want to make sure everything is in order [first]. I’m going to take care of business.”

Hearn did not detail all six alleged breaches, but his comments came while discussing the dispute over White’s involvement and the billing of the fight. He has indicated that he intends to contact Netflix to ensure the terms of the agreement are followed before Matchroom proceeds with next week’s promotional activities.