Dana White: I don't know if Fury v Joshua happens

Dana White says he does not know if Tyson Fury will fight Anthony Joshua in December.

Asked at London's Copper Box on Saturday, 26 September, whether the heavyweight clash would actually happen, White replied: "I don't know." Asked if a news conference scheduled for London on Wednesday would go ahead, he added: "I have no idea" BBC.

It is a sharp change of tone. Only two days earlier, on Thursday, Fury and Joshua — both British former heavyweight champions — were officially announced to meet at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on 11 December, live globally on Netflix BBC. The announcement billed the event as a collaboration involving Turki Alalshikh's The Ring and White, the UFC chief executive now pushing into boxing with Zuffa Boxing.

White was in London for Zuffa Boxing's debut show, where Johnny Fisher beat Michael Pirotton. Instead the night turned into a row about contracts, roles and who is really promoting Fury-Joshua.

The dispute centres on White's involvement. Eddie Hearn, who has promoted Joshua through his professional career, said Joshua's contract specifically prevented White and TKO — the UFC's parent company — from having a promotional role, and claimed Netflix had not been told about that clause. Fury, promoted long-term by Frank Warren, said a similar restriction had originally appeared in his own contract but was removed because he wanted White involved BBC.

A promoter, in plain terms, is the person who makes the fight happen and sells it. White was blunt about Hearn on Saturday. "The guy who is supposed to be helping the fight has been hurting the fight," he said. "He hasn't done the fight any favours."

The exchange with British reporters grew heated. When pressed on his status, White snapped: "I'm involved in the f***ing fight" Yahoo Sports. He had struck a similarly defiant note the previous day, asking "who is going to stop me" when questioned about his role Sky Sports.

Behind the shouting, the fight looks shaky. Reports emerged on Friday that Fury-Joshua could be in jeopardy and that other options for the 11 December Netflix date were being discussed, including Ryan Garcia against Terence Crawford. Fury then claimed in a video posted on social media that Joshua and Hearn were "trying to pull out" BBC.

For fans, this means confusion rather than clarity. Fury against Joshua is the all-British heavyweight fight supporters have wanted for years, and Thursday's announcement felt like the end of the wait. Three days later, one of the men named on the announcement cannot say if it will happen — or if the fighters will even face the cameras this week.