UFC tried to lure Anthony Joshua away. Here’s how it turned out
Steven Perez
Dailysports's expert
Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed the sensational details behind Dana White’s attempt to poach Anthony Joshua from boxing to MMA.
Details: Speaking on the Cigar Talk podcast, Hearn shared that the UFC CEO personally reached out to the British heavyweight, pitching him the idea of trading the boxing ring for the Octagon.
According to Hearn, he first learned of the call from the newspapers and immediately went to meet with Joshua.
“Hey, what the hell is going on?” Hearn asked.
Anthony replied calmly and confirmed:
“Yeah, he just called me out of the blue.”
The conversation between the boxer and the UFC boss lasted about half an hour. Despite the tempting prospects and White’s persistence, Joshua remained loyal. He made it clear to Dana White that boxing and his partnership with Hearn were his priorities, and he’s determined to reclaim the summit of the boxing world.
Later, Hearn met Dana White in his office to discuss the incident face-to-face. White admitted that Joshua shut down any poaching attempts within the first five seconds, stating:
“Just so you know, I’m not leaving Eddie. He’s my guy, but let’s talk,” Hearn concluded.
Reminder: The Ring magazine published its updated heavyweight boxing rankings.
