Dana White explodes at another reporter over Eddie Hearn questions amid Fury vs Joshua row

Dana White produced his latest explosive retort to questioning on his involvement in Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua after Eddie Hearn shut down the UFC supremo’s latest claims on production.

Hearn and his Matchroom Boxing organisation promote Joshua, while Frank Warren represents Fury but White – backed by Saudi matchmaker Turki Alalshikh – and his Zuffa Boxing stable are adamant they will be involved in the production of the heavyweight fight for the Netflix broadcast.

Hearn and White have been at loggerheads from the start of the process, with White insinuating he had hashed out a deal for the fight to be at Madison Square Garden in New York before it was eventually confirmed for Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, and the Matchroom chief now continues to reiterate any White claims of involvement in production or promotion are against contractual obligations.

White has already been involved in a viral exchange with a journalist in a press conference following Johnny Fisher‘s majority decision victory over Michael Pirotton, which headlined a recent Zuffa Boxing card in London, with the UFC president sharply telling the British reporter “you know what you’re doing” while being pressed on his part in the ‘Battle of Britain’.

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Dana White has been tetchy about questions on his involvement in Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua (Getty)

But after Tuesday night’s edition of the Contender Series, White again lost it at a journalist who went about a similar line of questioning following Hearn’s appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show.

Asked about whether the UFC would indeed lead production for the fight, he replied: “That’s a fact.”

White then continued: “ Are you fing kidding me right now? Did he talk about AJ and Fury? That’s all that matters. Who gives a s?

“I mean, have I been wrong in anything that I’ve said? Nothing. I am producing the fight. I am promoting the fight. I will be there at the fight. And then I’m flying right back to Vegas for the UFC fight, and all of my producers and guys that run production will be flying with me.

“We already had the meeting. The meeting was fing yesterday. I mean, this is so fing silly now, and the fact that you guys are even asking me these questions…

“And if he’s on Ariel Helwani for however long he’s on, he’s talking about me? Why? Why am I the main topic?

“AJ and Fury are fighting. Those two are gonna make a f*** ton of money. The fight has finally happened. And everything that I have said about my involvement in the fight has been absolutely true. Anybody wanna debate that?”

Hearn has continually contested any suggestion by White that he hasn’t got things wrong during this process, telling reporters at last week’s launch press conference for Fury vs Joshua: “The arrogance of saying, ‘Tell me what I said that was wrong.’ Number one, you said the fight is in America. Number two, you said that you’re the promoter. And number three, you said you did the deal with the venue and you know where the fight is. All of those things, you were wrong.”

Hearn also criticised White for missing the press conference in London, which he claimed was because of his obligation to attend a UFC Contender Series event the day prior.

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Hearn criticised White for missing the launch press conference in London last week (PA)

White defended his decision and denied that him being at the press conference would have been a breach of contract.

“It’s weird if Dana White doesn’t show up to Dana White’s Contender Series on a Tuesday,” he said. “I haven’t missed one in ten years no matter what, and then I had the press conference for the fight [UFC 332] in Utah.

“And the day that we held it, the reason that was the day was because Turki wanted to be at the press conference. There’s absolutely zero confusion.”