Tyson Fury, a heavyweight boxer, blasts opponent Dillian Whyte for skipping the kick-off media event and suggests retirement. On Tuesday in London, Tyson Fury was cast in a familiar role.
The promotion was handled by the heavyweight champion before his trilogy bout with Deontay Wilder last year when the challenger refused to answer questions from the media during the kick-off press conference.
And now, for the second time in as many fights, Fury (31-0-1, 22 KOs) has been forced to shoulder the brunt of media duties after his next opponent, Dillian Whyte, failed to show up for a press conference on Tuesday to kick off the promotion for their April 23 bout at London’s Wembley Stadium on ESPN PPV.
“He should be here advertising the fight,” ESPN’s No. 1 heavyweight, Tyson Fury, remarked. “That’s my perspective, and I believe it will be bad luck for him, his family, and his legacy in the future.”
He said, “I believed he would have come here to be a part of big-time boxing.” “He’s never been in a battle of this scale before, and he probably won’t be again.”
Since promoter Frank Warren secured the rights to the bout in January with a record $41,025,000 purse offer, Whyte (28-2, 19 KOs) has been largely silent on social media. The 34-year-old Jamaican native waited until Monday’s deadline to sign the contract because he wanted to have a share of the possible pay-per-view revenue.
Top Rank chairman Bob Arum, who co-promotes Fury with Warren, informed BoxingScene that Whyte refused to promote the fight unless he was paid a part of the potential profit. Whyte is expected to receive $7,384,500 under the purse bid. Fury will get $29,538,000, or 80% of the offer, less a 10% victory bonus ($4,102,500).
“We checked all the boxes, and he signed the contract at the last minute,” Warren explained, “and now he’s attempting to renegotiate.” “He’s receiving eight times what Tyson received in his fight with [Wladimir] Klitschko.” It’s awful that Dillian Whyte is in Portugal. This is insane; he should be here.”
“Shame on Dillian Whyte for disrespecting the sport,” Arum said on Twitter.
Whyte did not reply to a request for comment from ESPN through text message.
Before being stunned by Alexander Povetkin in August 2020, he was the WBC’s No. 1 contender for more than 1,000 days without a championship chance. In March 2021, Whyte avenged the knockout with a TKO of Povetkin to reclaim his WBC mandatory challenger status. Whyte, the No. 6 heavyweight on ESPN, is perhaps the most successful active boxer without a title opportunity. He has victories over Joseph Parker and Derek Chisora, as well as a 2015 TKO defeat to Anthony Joshua.
The fight with Fury, which is projected to draw a crowd of 90,000, will be only the third all-British heavyweight title fight in history. It will also be Fury’s first fight back in the United Kingdom since defeating Francesco Pianeta in August 2018.
Fury was making his second comeback fight after relinquishing his unified heavyweight title due to substance addiction and despair. Fury has fought in four of his previous five fights, with his first meeting with Deontay Wilder taking place in Los Angeles.
During that time, Fury defeated Wilder twice in the ring, cementing his status as the finest heavyweight in the world. During that period, he also became a true star in the United States, which corresponded with a six-fight agreement with Top Rank to compete exclusively on ESPN networks. Fury has one more fight on his Top Rank contract after the Whyte fight, thus the arrangement includes an option.
“I don’t blame him for not being here today,” Fury said, “because if he had been here, I would have definitely stretched him during the press conference.” “It’s a good thing he’s not here; else, I’d be stuck in a London jail cell.” Because Tyson Fury vs. his own shadow sells, the buildup to this battle will be great. I’ll make sure that everyone is amused.”
On Tuesday, “The Gypsy King” hinted at retirement once more, but a win over Whyte would place the 33-year-old in line for a shot at the undisputed heavyweight title. In the spring, Oleksandr Usyk and Joshua are set to fight again in the United Kingdom, and whomever wins three crowns will face Tyson Fury later this year.
“This will be my final battle,” Fury stated. “… “I’m going to purchase a large boat offshore with $150 million in the bank, healthy, and youthful.”
