Dana White skips Fury–Joshua launch and takes aim at state of US boxing
Dana White will not attend the Fury–Joshua press conference and used a Contender Series appearance to argue boxing has lost ground in the United States, saying the sport has ‘become a very British sport’.
Dana White will miss the Fury–Joshua press conference and used his appearance at the Contender Series to question the health of boxing in the United States. White told reporters he would have attended the launch “if I didn’t have the contender,” and argued that boxing in the US is not as big as it was 20 years ago, adding that it "has become a very British sport." Boxing News 24 said White’s involvement with the event had already been disputed, making his absence another talking point around the delayed fight.
White skips press conference, cites Contender Series commitments
Dana White will not attend the Fury–Joshua press conference, telling the media at the Contender Series that he would have gone “if I didn’t have the contender.” Boxing News 24 reported that White’s involvement in promoting the stadium event had already been disputed, and his absence added fresh attention to that uncertainty. The comments came during a press conference for the Contender Series, and White framed them as a scheduling decision rather than a snub.
White: US boxing has lost ground; stadium sell-outs don’t tell the whole story
At the Contender Series press conference, White argued that boxing in the United States has declined compared with two decades ago. “Boxing has taken a hit in the United States,” he said, adding: “It’s not as big as it was here, you know, 20 years ago. It has become a very British sport.” White suggested that a packed British stadium for Fury–Joshua shows individual events can still sell, but it doesn't necessarily indicate sustained interest in the sport in America between those big nights. Boxing News 24’s coverage noted that much of the fight’s appeal stems from the fighters’ names and the long wait fans have endured for the matchup.