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Todd duBoef responds to Dana White’s damning X-rated comments about him and Bob Arum

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Todd duBoef has opened up on Top Rank’s rocky relationship with UFC boss Dana White.

Top Rank CEO Bob Arum and White have been embroiled in a bitter feud since the UFC went under new ownership in 2001.

White branded Arum and duBoef ‘scumbags’ as he announced his move into boxingX: @jedigoodman

In a famous interview with combat sports journalist Ariel Helwani, Arum likened the UFC to ‘human cockfighting’ and described its fans as ‘a bunch of skinhead white guys’.

Meanwhile, White has called the Hall of Fame boxing promoter every name under the sun.

Tensions are only expected to intensify now that White is planning to move into boxing.

The Connecticut businessman is currently working with Irish super-welterweight prospect Callum Walsh while he has also teased an imminent announcement regarding his further involvement in the sport – although he stopped short of revealing too many details.

White helped promote Walsh’s last fight against Przemyslaw Runowski, which was shown on TNT Sports in the UK after Frank Warren granted them permission to strike a deal with the broadcaster despite Queensberry’s exclusive agreement.

However, they were unable to get the fight shown on a major American platform, with White alleging that Arum and his son-in-law duBoef had blocked the fight from getting a slot on ESPN Plus.

Speaking to assembled media last week, White said: “The Warrens are absolute class acts for giving these platforms an opportunity to fight on a platform like this…

“The scumbag Bob Arum and his son Todd Duboef didn’t do the same.

“So they’re pieces of s***. I wanted to thank the Warrens, you guys are classy and I really appreciate it.”

Responding to White’s comments during an exclusive interview with talkSPORT.com, Top Rank President duBoef said: “I saw what he said about us blocking him from ESPN Plus.

White and Arum have been embroiled in a bitter feud for several yearsTop Rank

But duBoef has also been caught up in the crossfireGETTY

“All I can say is I’ve known Dana for 30 years, the COO, Lawrence Epstein, I’ve known for 50 plus years, and he was even the best man at my wedding.

“I never received a call from anyone at the UFC. I saw Hunter Campbell ten days before the comment came out.

“No one put in a call from the UFC and had a real conversation with me so if they want to have conversations directly with me or anybody in my office then I’m all for it.”

Asked how the relationship between Top Rank and the UFC had got to this point, duBoef responded: “I can’t speak for Dana, I can only speak for myself.

“I respect what the UFC is, I respect what Dana has done. You know Lawrence and I go way back, you’re talking 50 years.

“I mean his mother comes to my house, I just saw her a month ago in Colorado so there is a lot of respect between us.

“I thought I had a good relationship with the UFC and Dana.

“From my perspective, Dana likes the foil and he likes Bob being the foil.

“He liked it when he came into UFC and he said ‘I’m the cool sport’ and he would point the finger at Bob as the old sport and he would say he’s bad and he’s this.

“Say whatever you want, I’m not going to speak for him.”

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