Dana White: I Closed the Fury vs Joshua Venue Deal Myself

Dana White isn't just talking about the Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua fight — he's the one who closed the venue deal. The UFC founder and Zuffa Boxing chief says TKO handled the television rights, the venue agreement, and essentially everything behind the scenes for the most anticipated heavyweight clash in years.

White Steps Out of the Shadows

For months, fans have been left guessing on dates, locations, and whether this fight would ever actually happen. White cut through the noise in comments reported by Sky Sports, making it clear he's been at the center of the negotiations the whole time.

"We're the ones that have done all the deals for this fight. I did the deal for the venue, that's why I know where the venue is," White said. "We at TKO did the deal for television and we did everything."

He's not just a spectator here. TKO — the parent company that controls UFC, WWE, and Zuffa Boxing — has its fingerprints all over this event.

Follow the Money

As for where the fight lands, White wasn't giving up the location — but he did hand out the blueprint. "You're going to go where the money is," he said plainly.

That phrasing carries weight. Eddie Hearn, Joshua's promoter, has been vocal about wanting the fight on British soil, and fans in the UK have been hopeful ever since the matchup started gaining traction. But with Saudi backing reportedly financing the bout, the money trail may point east rather than north.

The Fury vs Joshua Wembley scenario would create logistical headaches too — a potential 1am start time if broadcast rights demand it. White's comments suggest the venue decision is already locked in, even if the public hasn't been told yet.

A Decade of Near-Misses

White didn't hold back when reflecting on how long this fight has taken to materialize. "It's just been such a mess. It's unbelievable what a mess this thing has been," he said.

He pointed the finger squarely at promoter egos, arguing that the business side of boxing consistently gets in the way of delivering the fights fans actually want. "The promoters' egos are actually more important than the fights themselves," he said bluntly.

Fury and Joshua have been orbiting each other for nearly a decade without ever sharing a ring. The verbal sparring between the two has been a constant — it's the actual fight that's kept slipping away.

White's Take on Both Fighters

Despite the frustration with boxing's politics, White had genuine admiration for both men involved.

On Joshua, he's been a fan since the Klitschko era. "Good looking, charismatic, good speaking heavyweight champion — that's what boxing needs," White said. Joshua has been working hard to reassert himself at the elite level, and his recent performances have shown signs of that comeback drive.

On Fury, White pointed to that iconic Deontay Wilder sequence — getting dropped hard and dragging himself off the canvas to finish the fight — as proof of what makes the Gypsy King special. "He's one of the best ever," White said. Fury's own recent form has kept him in the conversation too, with a dominant TKO performance keeping him in the hunt.

What Comes Next

Sky Sports has reached out to both Matchroom and Queensberry — the respective promotional outfits for Joshua and Fury — for a response to White's comments. Neither has officially confirmed details.

What's clear is that TKO is deep in this deal and White has the receipts. The venue is chosen. The television deal is done. The Saudi money is in place. Now it's just a matter of when the announcement lands — and whether boxing can finally get out of its own way long enough to make this fight happen.