Dana White not expected to attend Anthony Joshua-Tyson Fury press conference

Dana White is not expected to attend Wednesday’s London press conference formally announcing the December 11 showdown between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.

The Zuffa Boxing boss has been a thorn in the side of Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, for much of 2026. Not only did he persuade the likes of Conor Benn to leave Matchroom for Zuffa, he has also been vocal about his involvement in Joshua-Fury, claiming he would promote the bout and was responsible for securing the original location deal.

However, it was written into both fighters’ contracts that White could not be the lead promoter. Though Fury changed his agreement as recently as last week to allow the UFC supremo to be involved, Joshua and Hearn – as they have from the outset – stood firm on the terms of their deal after a press release indicated White would promote the event.

Plans to stage the fight at New York’s Madison Square Garden on November 20 – with White thought to have secured the venue – were also opposed. Joshua’s contract stipulated that the bout had to take place in the UK. Wembley was explored before the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, emerged as the frontrunner.

On Saturday, amid reports the entire event was in jeopardy because of White’s involvement, Max Kellerman said during Zuffa’s broadcast on Paramount+: “Dana White’s involvement in the fight, so people know, is purely in assisting Turki Alalshikh, who has been the engine behind just about every big fight in boxing over the last handful of years.

“He’s assisting Turki in a personal capacity, not as a promoter.”

When asked by BoxingScene if that would be officially confirmed, Hearn said: “They will have to.”

White did not take kindly to being questioned about the matter after overseeing Johnny Fisher – another former Matchroom fighter – make his Zuffa debut.

Another bump in the road emerged on Monday when it was revealed that Fury had yet to enrol in VADA testing for the bout, despite the participation of both fighters being mandatory under Joshua’s contract.

On Tuesday, after Fury agreed to testing, Hearn confirmed to BoxingScene that all outstanding issues had, “for now”, been resolved.