Dana White just dropped a truth bomb, blasting the ongoing drama around the Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua superfight as a “total ego thing.” You heard that right, according to the UFC CEO, the big hold-up for one of the most anticipated boxing matches isn’t about anything serious, it’s just pure ego running rampant.
White Insists He’s In, Despite the Noise
For weeks now, the fight has seemed like it was constantly on the brink of collapse, largely thanks to a very public spat between Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, and White himself. Even without a direct promotional tie to either fighter, White and financier Turki Alalshikh have been pushing for White’s involvement. Hearn, on the other hand, has been digging his heels in, steadfastly refusing to let it happen. But White is having none of it. After the latest Contender Series on Tuesday night, he told reporters, “There’s no confusion whatsoever.” He’s been saying it for what feels like “f*cking years,” but admits it’s probably been weeks, and his message hasn’t wavered. “It’s happening. It’s done,” White declared, doubling, tripling, and even “quadrupling down” on his claim that he’s part of the promotion.
The Bitter Rivalry and the U.K. “Crying”
Of course, White has said things were settled before, only for Hearn to deny it later, which just fuels the fire. These two have been locked in an increasingly bitter rivalry for most of 2026, ever since White launched Zuffa Boxing and snatched up Conor Benn, one of Hearn’s long-time fighters. White even once suggested they fight each other for real. So it’s no shocker that he’s chalking up the Fury-Joshua issues to ego. “This isn’t a hesitation, this is an ego thing,” White reiterated. “Total ego thing. It has nothing to do with any of this sh*t.” He didn’t stop there, pointing out that boxing has “taken a hit in the United States” and has “become a very British sport,” dismissing “all the sh*t that you’re hearing, the crying, and the bitching” as coming straight from the U.K. White says he’s just “having fun” with it all, admitting “this is right up my alley.”
December 11: The Date Is Set, White’s Not at the Presser
So, while White is clearly enjoying the drama, don’t expect to see him at the opening press conference in London on Wednesday. He confirmed he won’t be there, simply stating, “No, because I was here. I would have been there if I didn’t have the Contender.” Despite all the back-and-forth, the fight is still on the books. Fury and Joshua are set to face off on December 11 at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. Let’s hope all this ego talk actually leads to the fight we’ve all been waiting for.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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