Dana White Says Boxing Has Become a British Sport, Skips Fury vs Joshua Launch

Dana White was nowhere near the Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua press conference on Tuesday, and he had plenty to say about why, and about the sport itself.

White attributed his absence to scheduling. "I would have been there if I didn't have the contender," he said, referring to his Contender Series commitments in Las Vegas. But the UFC boss did not stop there, using the moment to fire shots at boxing's declining relevance in America.

"Boxing has taken a hit in the United States," White said. "It's not as big as it was here, you know, 20 years ago. It has become a very British sport." The comments came as Fury and Joshua announced their December 11 fight at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, a sold-out British stadium event that White seemed to view as proof of his point rather than a counter to it.

White's involvement in the Fury-Joshua fight has been a subject of debate. His role in the negotiations was disputed by multiple parties during the months-long process to finalize the bout. Separately, per BJPenn.com, White pointed the finger at Matchroom's Eddie Hearn, claiming Hearn's "ego" caused drama during the negotiations to make the fight.

The tension between White and the traditional boxing establishment is nothing new. White has long positioned himself as an outsider who can fix what is broken in boxing, while promoters like Hearn have pushed back on the idea that the UFC boss understands the sport's economics and culture.

Whether White's absence was really about the Contender Series or a calculated move to distance himself from the promotion while still grabbing headlines is an open question. Either way, he managed to make himself part of the story without being in the room.