Tyson Fury's Manager Comments on Dana White vs. Eddie Hearn Rivalry Amid Fury vs. Joshua Build-Up

The upcoming December 11 mega-fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua is being overshadowed by a promotional clash between Eddie Hearn and Dana White. Though neither will fight, their ongoing dispute has taken center stage in boxing circles since White'sZuffa Boxing entered the sport earlier this year.

Spencer Brown, Fury's manager, expressed his take on this rivalry during an appearance on Uncrowned's The Ariel Helwani Show. He said, "I think Eddie's winning the war of words, but they’re two completely different characters. [White’s] a hardened bulldog who’s a great businessman who’s took stuff from nowhere." Brown acknowledged White’s role in building UFC into a major sport, adding, "He’s created a sport on its own. All credit to him." On the other hand, Brown praised Hearn for carrying on his father's legacy and achieving huge success in boxing.

From Mutual Respect to Rivalry

Once friendly, with visits to each other's events, the relationship between Hearn and White turned sour after TKO stepped into boxing promotions. Brown finds it puzzling why the two can't maintain civility. "You’ve got two men there—I can’t see why they can’t [be amicable]. Does it have to be bitter and nasty all the time? I don’t think so," he said.

Brown recalled seeing Hearn at a UFC event in Vegas in September 2024, where they appeared to get along well despite territorial tensions following Zuffa's entry into boxing. In March, White publicly challenged Hearn to a boxing match on The Piers Morgan Show, which Hearn accepted eagerly. Even though KSI's Misfits Boxing offered $20 million for their bout, White later dismissed the idea.

"I think if Dana catches him on the jaw, he goes," Brown joked about the potential fight. "If Eddie keeps him at long range and keeps him on the jab, I think he beats him."

Saudi Arabia's Role and Future in Boxing

Brown's interest extends beyond the promoter feud, especially as his company Goldstar plays a key role in Saudi Arabia’s boxing investments. Despite rumors of the kingdom pulling back, Brown believes these reports are exaggerated. Still, he suspects the Fury-Joshua fight might be among the last big-scale events funded by Saudi Arabia.

• Brown on Saudi involvement: "I don’t think [their involvement] is going anywhere yet. Everything has to calm down. The money has to go down because nobody can keep paying that sort of money."
• Future outlook: "You might get one or two big fights a year in the future, but I don’t think they’re going to leave the sport. They’ve got no thoughts about leaving."
• Influence of Turki Alalshikh: Brown mentioned the significance of Turki Alalshikh’s health, describing his recent statements as "heartbreaking." Alalshikh has been a major force behind Saudi boxing investments, driven by his passion and personal health challenges.

Industry insiders speculate that with Zuffa Boxing's formation and a slowdown in Saudi-hosted events, the kingdom’s massive spending may reduce, shifting toward more sustainable funding models through TKO’s Zuffa Boxing.