Dana White Expresses Frustration After Boxing Politics Resurface for British Superfight

UFC CEO Dana White questions the reason behind the delay to officially announce the details behind Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury.

Dana White Expresses Frustration After Boxing Politics Resurface for British Superfight

Dana White (via SPORTbible)

Dana White entered boxing promotion with a clear vision to modernize the sport and change its traditional structure. The UFC CEO wanted to move away from boxing’s established model and create a simpler system. His plans included fewer weight classes and greater recognition for fighters competing throughout the undercard.

Zuffa Boxing has made an early impact since launching in 2026, securing a multi-year Paramount deal and staging several events. White has also discussed promoting the long-awaited Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury heavyweight showdown. He has worked toward securing television and venue arrangements for the fight.

The Fury-Joshua fight remains held up by a dispute over its venue and existing contractual terms. Joshua’s agreement calls for the fight to take place in the UK, while Netflix and Turki Alalshikh favor New York. Madison Square Garden has emerged as the proposed venue, but Joshua’s side has not agreed to change the location.

Eddie Hearn has warned that moving ahead without an agreement could derail the fight. The situation has created another obstacle for the long-awaited heavyweight clash, despite growing efforts to finalize the matchup. White recently ranted over the prolonged saga after securing the television and venue arrangements.

They either want to fight or they don’t. I didn’t do [Anthony Joshua’s] contract. We did the television deal and the venue deal. Listen to make a fight, two guys have to want to fight. Period. End of story. Contracts and this and that, there’s a lot of money up for grabs in this fight. Do you want to fight or do you not want to fight? It’s up to them. The fight should have happened 10 years ago. Is it going to happen now? We’ll see.

Dana White via UFC 330 press conference

The British superfight was initially confirmed by Alalshikh in April, with the bout targeted for the fourth quarter of 2026. He also revealed that Netflix would stream the clash, giving the matchup a global platform. The Saudi executive promised to resolve the promotional issues surrounding the fight and bring the competing sides together.

These political hurdles are unfamiliar territory for White after years leading the UFC as MMA’s dominant promotion. The UFC’s structure gives him greater control over matchmaking and promotional decisions. This is majorly why White wants boxing to follow the UFC model, reducing the politics and confusion surrounding matches.

White has also faced resistance over the Muhammad Ali Boxing Revival Act. The House passed the bill in March before a Senate hearing, where Nick Khan supported it, while Oscar De La Hoya and Nico Ali Walsh opposed the reforms. The legislation would create Unified Boxing Organizations and change existing protections.

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua have been linked since 2021, but repeated attempts to finalize the fight failed. Contractual terms, promotional interests, and venue issues stalled negotiations.

The 2026 target gives Dana White another opportunity to deliver the superfight and pursue his UFC-style model for boxing.

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Oscar De La Hoya doubles down on criticism over Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing

Oscar De La Hoya’s rivalry with Dana White dates back to 2017, when he criticized the Floyd Mayweather–Conor McGregor crossover. The feud has continued through repeated disputes over MMA, boxing, and White’s approach to the sport. De La Hoya has since become a vocal critic of Zuffa Boxing and White’s plans for boxing.

De La Hoya has also criticized the partnership between White and Turki Alalshikh through Zuffa Boxing. He has questioned their plans to reshape boxing and warned that Zuffa could gain greater influence over the sport. The former champion has particularly opposed the centralized model White and Alalshikh are pursuing.

Oscar De La Hoya talks about Dana White
Oscar De La Hoya talks about Dana White (via Boxing Scene, Yahoo Sports)

De La Hoya founded Golden Boy Promotions in 2002, giving him more than two decades of experience as a boxing promoter. Golden Boy has worked with major fighters and broadcasters throughout that period. His long experience has shaped his criticism of Zuffa Boxing, leading to his recent comments about White’s plans.

Dana White has no clue what he’s doing. He has no clue which fighters are under Zuffa… Every fighter is a number to this organization because, when you’re under a publicly traded company, it’s all about the bottom line. That’s exactly what I can see in the future. These guys are just using all these fighters for their benefit… That’s corporate America.

Oscar De La Hoya via The Ariel Helwani Show

Despite their rivalry, Dana White and Oscar De La Hoya will work together on Ryan Garcia vs. Conor Benn. Garcia remains with Golden Boy, while Benn signed with Zuffa Boxing in February.

The September 12 fight will headline at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and stream on Paramount+ globally, excluding the UK and Ireland.

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