Tyson Fury says he removed a clause barring Dana White from his fight with Anthony Joshua. He says Joshua’s contract had the same restriction. Fury has made his choice public, leaving Joshua to answer an uncomfortable question: does he want White kept away from the event?
“I want him involved. Two baldies together,” Fury joked in an interview, as Dev Sahni reported. The contracts have not been made public, so Fury’s description of Joshua’s terms remains his account.
White’s involvement has already irritated Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn. Fury knows that. His joke puts the issue in front of fans and invites them to see any objection from Joshua’s side as promoter politics getting in the way of a fight.
That is useful ground for Fury. If negotiations stall, he can say he welcomed everyone while Joshua’s side insisted on keeping White out. It gives Fury a simple explanation for a complicated delay, even though nobody has established that White’s role is what is holding up the fight.
It also puts Joshua in a difficult position. Matchroom helped make him a huge British attraction, and Hearn has every reason to protect his place in the promotion. But if Joshua wants White excluded too, fans deserve to hear that from Joshua. Fury’s version makes the restriction sound like Hearn guarding his territory.
There is another question Fury has left unanswered: what would White actually do? Neither boxer needs him to negotiate on his behalf. Wanting White “involved” sounds like a concession until someone defines the job Fury wants him to have.
Fury has found a line that will get people talking. A clear date, venue and agreement between both camps would do more for this fight than another argument over who gets a microphone.
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