Eddie Hearn: Dana White was 'not permitted' at the Fury vs Joshua press conference

Hearn called the past week "one of the greatest PR disasters in boxing" for White's side, and said that contractually White cannot be involved unless Hearn allows it.

By Combat Sports UK Staff · Published Wed 30 Sept, 21:35 UK · AI-assisted reporting

Eddie Hearn speaking to The Stomping Ground after the Fury vs Joshua press conference — Image: The Stomping Ground

Eddie Hearn says Dana White missed the Fury vs Joshua press conference because he was not allowed to be there, and called the past week one of the biggest PR disasters in boxing.

"The reason Dana didn't come today is he was not permitted to come today," Hearn told Charlie Parsons of The Stomping Ground after the press conference in London. Asked about TKO's Nick Khan, who sat in the audience, he said: "He was sitting in a crowd. I can't stop people from sitting in a crowd... Dana could have come and sat in the crowd if he really wanted to."

Hearn dismissed the idea that White stayed away because of the Contender Series. "That's like me not coming today because I've got a Next Gen show. It's a load of b******s," he said.

"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," Hearn said. "Dana etc. just played it all wrong... What's happened to them over the last seven days has been one of the greatest PR disasters in boxing."

He was relaxed about Tyson Fury, who called him "just a sausage" on stage: "Other than calling me a sausage, he gave me a lot of nice comments." On the row over billing, he said that when Joshua saw the poster with Fury's name first, "he never went, oh my God, why is my name second? He was like, that's pretty sick."

Derek Chisora, who wore a Dana White mask at the press conference, joined in when asked whether Hearn or White is the better promoter: "Eddie. Eddie's done big fights. Dana White's only promoted UFC... Eddie's the man."

Everything from the day is in our Fury vs Joshua press conference live coverage.