Dana White: 'I know where the Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua venue is - I did the deal!'

The long-awaited heavyweight showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua will take place "where the money is", says Dana White.

White, who founded the UFC and new promotion Zuffa Boxing, is a major figure in combat sports. He revealed that he knows where Fury vs Joshua will take place.

"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. I did the deal. We at TKO [the company which owns UFC, WWE and Zuffa Boxing] did the deal for television and we did everything," White told Sky Sports.

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There has been much speculation that Fury vs Joshua could take place in the United States rather than Britain, with Eddie Hearn, Joshua's promoter, claiming: "I really feel strongly that this is something that should happen in the UK and we'll do all we can."

White told Sky Sports: "At the end of the day, here's the truth, you're going to go where the money is."

Heavyweight rivals Joshua and Fury have been circling one another for almost a decade and yet a fight between the pair has never come to fruition.

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"It's just been such a [mess]. It's unbelievable what a [mess] this thing has been," White said.

"It goes to show why boxing has been so [messed] up for so long. Look at this. It's definitely not about the money. The Saudis are paying for this fight. So they're making [a lot] of money. And what I've noticed is in the boxing business since I've been in it for a very short period of time, six months, the promoters' egos are actually more important than the fights themselves and giving the fight fans the fights they want to see.

"It's all about ego with the promoters. It's fascinating. These guys are all really weak, some of the weakest people I've ever encountered in the fight game. It's fascinating."

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Sky Sports has contacted Matchroom and Queensberry, the promoters of Joshua and Fury, for comment.

Fury was a guest at White's UFC event at the White House and the promoter has known both fighters from before he launched his own boxing business.

"I've talked about Anthony Joshua after he beat (Wladimir) Klitschko and I was like that's what boxing needs, good looking, charismatic, good speaking heavyweight champion. So I've always really liked Anthony Joshua," White said.

"There was a point in time where Tyson was stagnant and trying to get fights so he started talking [trash] about UFC fighters, trying to get a payday one way or another and that was around the time that I met him and I've always liked him.

"Tough as hell, when he was dropped by (Deontay) Wilder [and] he gets right back up like a zombie and finishes the fight. He's a fun guy to watch. He's one of the best ever."

Watch Aaron McKenna and Etinosa Oliha fight for the IBF world middleweight title in Dublin on Saturday, live on Sky Sports. Get Sky Sports or stream boxing with no contract.