Boxing Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum has insisted he has 'no animosity' towards UFC president Dana White.

That's despite White recently calling him 'a scumbag' whilst simultaneously praising Jake Paul.

Arum, 90, also blasted his fellow American for his 'cowboy behaviour' during the coronavirus pandemic.

But the Top Rank boss revealed he would be willing to work with the MMA mogul to promote a lucrative crossover bout between Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou.

Arum told BoxingScene.com: “The truth is I’ve never ever met Dana White.

“I’ve never talked to him. I’ve never had any interaction with him. He said a lot of bad things about me.

"I’ve said a lot of bad things about UFC, I believe, so it is what it is.

"But I would think if there’s a big event, particularly one that we can put on at Allegiant’s Stadium [in Las Vegas] I think White would be right there. Wouldn’t bother me working on a big fight.”

Tyson Fury v Deontay Wilder - WBC Heavyweight Title
Boxing - Tyson Fury v Deontay Wilder - WBC Heavyweight Title - T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. - October 9, 2021 Tyson Fury poses for a photograph with promoters Frank Warren and Bob Arum during a press conference after winning the fight against Deontay Wilder REUTERS/Steve Marcus

Boxing - Tyson Fury v Deontay Wilder - WBC Heavyweight Title - T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. - October 9, 2021 Tyson Fury poses for a photograph with promoters Frank Warren and Bob Arum during a press conference after winning the fight against Deontay Wilder REUTERS/Steve Marcus

White has repeatedly slammed Arum in public after the promoter made some harsh comments about his former star Terence Crawford.

But Arum admits to being surprised by White's constant attacks over the past few years as he claims they have never met before.

He added: “There is [animosity] but I don’t know where it’s coming from, because I don’t even know the guy.

“I never ever, ever even said hello to him or had a conversation with him or anything like that.

"I don’t know the guy. Why he’s taking a dislike to me – maybe it’s what he’s read – I don’t know. But it’s obvious there’s animosity there. For me on my part there’s no animosity.”

Francis Ngannou
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 22: Francis Ngannou of Cameroon looks on against Ciryl Gane of France in their heavyweight title fight during the UFC 270 event at Honda Center on January 22, 2022 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 22: Francis Ngannou of Cameroon looks on against Ciryl Gane of France in their heavyweight title fight during the UFC 270 event at Honda Center on January 22, 2022 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)

Ngannou, 35, has not given up hope of fighting Fury in the future.

The two heavyweight champions have built up a steady rivalry in recent years that has seen fans call for the pair to settle their differences in the squared circle.

And Arum insisted he will do everything in his power to ensure they collide in a clash of the titans.

He continued: “I think absolutely we’d want that to happen.

“Yeah, why not? That would be a great thing to happen.

"I think the MMA guy has an ACL that has been operated on. So he’ll be ready next year. That fight will do absolute tremendous business.

"If he has a contract still with UFC – which I don't know if he does or doesn’t – to do it in conjunction with Dana White would add to the drama and momentum for that fight. It would do record numbers.

“I’m sure if that fight came to fruition and if the UFC was still somehow contractually involved...we’d have to talk. I’m sure we would talk.”