Anthony Joshua rejected 'desperation' $10 million offer to let TKO promote Tyson Fury fight, says Eddie Hearn

Anthony Joshua turned down an offer of around $10 million, in addition to his purse, to allow TKO Group — the parent company of UFC and WWE — to be the lead promoter for his long-awaited fight with Tyson Fury and stage it in the United States, Eddie Hearn revealed on Uncrowned's "The Ariel Helwani Show" Tuesday.

Instead, Joshua insisted that the terms of his existing contract be honored: The Dec. 11 fight to take place on British soil, without TKO's promotional involvement.

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The rejected proposal is at the heart of an increasingly bitter dispute between Matchroom chairman Hearn and UFC CEO Dana White over White's role in the fight.

"Someone came around the back and approached a member of AJ's team with a very clear written proposal on behalf of TKO," Hearn revealed.

Hearn believes TKO's willingness to pay a premium for involvement in Joshua-Fury is an indictment of Zuffa Boxing's success — or lack thereof — since it launched in January.

"[TKO] have to go to shareholders and say, '[Zuffa Boxing] has been a success for us,'" Hearn said.

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"Their last U.S. show was in July. There's nothing scheduled [for Zuffa Boxing] in October, November, December in the U.S. right now.

"You have to, as a business that has the responsibility to give the perception and also give the numbers, tell shareholders that actually this new venture has been a success. They need to be there front and center of AJ-Fury in a fight they have nothing to do with and say, 'Look, told you, Zuffa Boxing, we are the guys. Look, biggest fight in the world.'

"There's a huge value to that. That's why they offered AJ a load of money to let them do it."

"This is the desperation and value they place on pretending to be involved in this event," Hearn continued.

The Matchroom chairman believes Zuffa Boxing has been "absolutely abysmal" since it launched in January, forcing White's company to push for involvement in the British mega-fight.

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Joshua vs. Fury was finally confirmed two weeks ago, ending a decade of waiting for boxing fans. But within 48 hours, news broke that the matchup was once again in jeopardy because Netflix's press release announcing the fight stated that White had promotional involvement — something Hearn was not willing to let happen.

"Whether it's untoward or planned, whatever it is, when that press release went out, obviously s*** hit the fan," Hearn explained. "Because it's like, 'You do understand that this would be a breach of the agreement.' Netflix was kind of like, 'It's not our agreement,' and that put the fight in jeopardy.

"This could've actually been resolved many weeks ago, but people's arrogance and refusal to acknowledge a contract and just tell the truth changed the game and the direction of this situation and this fight. In that situation, it was like, 'Whoa, hang on a minute. This would be a contractual breach.'

"Next thing [Saudi Arabia's] SELA got involved, everyone's getting involved [telling us] '[TKO is] going to promote the fight, they're going to be at the press conference.' No."

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Even after Joshua allegedly rejected a $10 million offer to allow TKO's involvement in the bout, Netflix and SELA weren't willing to take no for an answer.

Hearn was ultimately able to keep White away from the kickoff press conference and as a listed promoter of the event — two big wins for the Brit in the eyes of British fight fans.

Hearn told Uncrowned, however, that he may still consider allowing White to be involved if it benefits Joshua and Matchroom, but believes those negotiations cannot begin while their media war continues.

"Five or six weeks ago," Hearn began, "[White] was expected to — or told pretty much — to come out and say, 'I understand there's a clause in the contract that means we can't be involved promotionally. I'm going to reach out to Eddie and Matchroom. We're going to have a sit-down, because people would like us to be involved in the fight, and we're going to have a talk.' He was told to say that, and he wouldn't say it."

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Instead, White has continually doubled down on his role as promoter of the fight, even most recently claiming UFC will handle the production for the event — which Hearn again refutes, meaning an end to their bitter rivalry appears a long way away.

Many would enjoy seeing Hearn and White across the room from each other at a press conference — none more so than Hearn himself. Except for Chris Eubank Jr., few have managed to keep up with Hearn in a war of words over the years, and Hearn believes White would be no match for him under the spotlight.

"I don't have an issue with Dana White being at the [fight week] press conference," Hearn said. "I would actually love to get him up there. But you've got to let us go at it. I've got so many questions.

"You can't just ask me one question like Max Kellerman did [at the launch press conference]. You've really got to let this unfold and play out. If you think you've seen a car crash so far, wait till you see when I get in front of him at a press conference. My goodness. ... It would just be like taking candy from a baby."

"He will only be there if we allow him to be there," Hearn concluded. "That's it."