Press Conference Boos
Dana White’s Name Draws Loud Boos at Fury-Joshua Press Conference Amid Dispute
Anonymous
Key Points
1
White said, “I would have been there if I didn't have the Contender Series,” and Netflix had listed him alongside Turki Alalshikh’s The Ring in its announcement of the event.
2
Alalshikh added a pointed aside to Hearn after thanking White: “don’t watch ‘Braveheart’ a lot, huh?” He also thanked TKO Group Holdings and Nick Khan, a TKO and WWE executive who was at the press conference.
3
White’s rivalry with Hearn has been sharpened by White signing Conor Benn, who had spent a decade with Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing, and helping promote Benn’s recent WBC welterweight title fight against Ryan Garcia.
4
The dispute over White’s role reportedly threatened to derail the fight, with reports that his involvement could conflict with a clause in Joshua’s contract.
Dana White's name drew loud boos from the crowd at the first press conference for Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua in London, even though the UFC president was not present. Bloody Elbow reported that event financier Turki Alalshikh thanked White for his involvement, prompting the hostile reaction while promoter Eddie Hearn smiled. The clash highlights a bitter dispute over White's actual role in the heavyweight bout scheduled for December 11 at Cardiff's Principality Stadium.
Why White Skipped the London Press Conference
White cited his commitment to Dana White's Contender Series, an event in Las Vegas, as the reason for his absence. MMA Fighting reported that White defended his involvement despite not attending, saying "I would have been there if I didn't have the Contender Series." Netflix had announced the fight with White's name alongside Alalshikh's The Ring, suggesting his promotional involvement was planned.
The Public Fight Between White and Hearn
Eddie Hearn, who represents Joshua's promoter Matchroom Boxing, has publicly challenged White's role in the bout. MMA Fighting noted that Hearn mocked White's absence as "one of the greatest PR disasters in boxing." Reports indicate the dispute threatened to derail the entire fight, with concerns that White's involvement could violate a clause in Joshua's contract.
A Rivalry Built on Poached Talent and Competing Interests
The tension between White and Hearn deepened after White signed boxer Conor Benn away from Matchroom Boxing, where Benn had spent a decade. BJ Penn reported that White then helped promote Benn's recent WBC welterweight title fight against Ryan Garcia. This aggressive recruitment of Hearn's fighters has fueled personal animosity between the two powerbrokers in combat sports.
Alalshikh's Pointed Jab at Hearn During the Presser
After thanking White, Alalshikh took a subtle shot at Hearn with a cryptic remark. Bloody Elbow reported that Alalshikh said, "don't watch 'Braveheart' a lot, huh?"—a reference to the film set in Scotland. Alalshikh also thanked TKO Group Holdings and Nick Khan, a TKO and WWE executive who attended the conference, signaling the corporate players backing the megafight.
Sentiment
Mostly NegativeNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
21
Articles
20
Reach
41
Topics
A
AnonymousAuthor
