Dana White reveals secret role in securing TV channel and venue for Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury

DANA WHITE has revealed his secret role in trying to finally get Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury into the ring. But the UFC supremo warned the British heavyweight superstars they simply have to decide whether they actually want to fight. UFC head Dana White has revealed his involvement in making the Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua fight Credit: Getty Fury vs Joshua is expected to take place in November this year Credit: Getty White lifted the lid on his involvement while speaking at the UFC post-fight press conference following Islam Makhachev’s win over Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330. The long-awaited Battle of Britain has been plunged into uncertainty amid uproar over the prospect of the all-British blockbuster taking place in the United States. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! New York’s Madison Square Garden has emerged as the favourite destination, while Joshua and his promoter Eddie Hearn have confirmed they want the fight staged on home soil in the UK. White, who launched his own promotional company Zuffa Boxing at the beginning of the year, had previously claimed he helped make the deal for Fury versus AJ, and has now clarified his exact role. Asked why Joshua could apparently insist on a UK venue if White had done the deal, he replied: “Well, I didn’t do his [Joshua’s] contract.” Pressed on what he did arrange, White revealed: “We did the television deal and the venue deal.” But when asked whether that venue would be in New York, he refused to confirm the location and simply said: “We’ll see.” White, 57, also appeared frustrated by the latest uncertainty surrounding a fight British boxing fans have been waiting years to see. Most read in Boxing BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK AJ and his promoter Eddie Hearn want the Fury fight in the UK Credit: PA He said: “Listen, this f***ing saga, we’ll see how this whole thing plays out. I mean, they either want to fight or they don’t.” And White insisted the huge money on offer should make negotiations relatively straightforward if both former heavyweight champions are serious about facing each other. He added: “Listen, to make a fight, two guys have to want to fight. Period. End of story. “Contracts and this and that, there’s a lot of f***ing money for grabs in this fight. Do you want to fight or do you not want to fight? I don’t give a s*** one way or the other.” White also made clear he would have no problem abandoning plans to stage the super-fight in America if Fury and Joshua ultimately agree to meet in Britain. Asked whether he would be happy for it to go to the UK, he replied: “I’d be happy, yeah. “Listen, I don’t give a s***. Do you want to fight or do you not want to fight?” Joshua, 36, and Fury, 38, have spent years being linked with a mammoth showdown without ever sharing the ring. And White admitted the contest has already come far later than he believes it should have. He said: “The fight should have happened 10 years ago. Is it going to happen now? We’ll see.” The Home of Boxing in 2026 There's a massive year of boxing ahead! It’s shaping up to be a blockbuster year of action inside the boxing ring. The Gypsy King has beaten Mariusz Wach in his second fight of the year to set up a huge fight with Anthony Joshua And AJ did the same, knocking out Kristian Prenga in the second round of a thrilling encounter – the Brit was knocked down twice in the opening round. Now fans are looking forward to Moses Itauma’s return for his toughest fight yet against Filip Hrgovic in August. Here’s all the big fights coming up… August Sat 15 – Claressa Shields vs Kaye Scott – DAZN Sat 29 – Moses Itauma vs Filip Hrgovic – DAZN September Sat 12 – Conor Benn vs Ryan Garcia – DAZN *If you click a link in this boxout, we will earn affiliate revenue. Comment now