UFC President, Dana White, has offered his opinion on the prolonged talks between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, and sympathised with boxing fans for the wait for the proposed undisputed heavyweight title fight.
White has been instrumental in the rise of the UFC over recent years, building the company up to becoming a well-respected franchise and increasing the awareness mixed martial arts worldwide. The organisation is often praised for matching the best fighters together without wait or dispute.
At a recent post fight press conference, he admitted that the frustration of not seeing big fights – a feeling that most boxing fans have unfortunately become accustomed to – is one of the very reasons behind the UFC’s design.
White also stated that the perpetual hurdles and the never-ending wait for an official announcement for Fury-Usyk, although disappointing, are not shocking
“Welcome to boxing, boys! Is it shocking? Yes. Is it shocking? No. That is boxing, it’s just the way that the sport always seems to play out.
The big fights, that should happen, never happen, and when they do it is always late. That is the stuff that used to drive me crazy as a fan and it is literally a part of how I designed this company [The UFC] to not be.”
UFC president Dana White gives his thoughts on Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk still not being finalised…
[📽️ @UFC] pic.twitter.com/xbz4HTbZsP
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) March 19, 2023
The pressure for a deal has only increased in recent days, with the WBA setting an official deadline of April 1st for an agreement to be reached, threatening to call their mandatory if contracts are not signed.
However, with the fight date just six weeks away, there are clear concerns from both teams, as well as the boxing community, that Fury-Usyk could be one that got away.
Despite the signs that it may be struggling, Fury’s promoter and one of the men closest to it all, Frank Warren, has teased a big announcement soon.