Dana White Reveals Fury-Joshua Was Meant to Be Announced at White House UFC Event
Dana White has revealed that Tyson Fury's December 11 fight with Anthony Joshua was originally supposed to be announced during Fury's surprise walkout at the UFC's White House lawn event in June — before backstage complications derailed the plan.
The long road to Tyson Fury versus Anthony Joshua nearly took a dramatic shortcut this summer. Speaking on The Pat McAfee Show on October 13, Dana White revealed that the December 11 "Battle of Britain" at Cardiff's Principality Stadium was supposed to be announced live during Fury's surprise appearance at UFC Freedom 250 on the White House lawn on June 14.
Fury was given his own walkout during that event and told UFC broadcaster Jon Anik that a "massive, massive, massive announcement" was coming. Nothing materialized that night, and months passed before the fight was finally confirmed. Asked by McAfee why the announcement never happened, White was blunt, saying complications intervened and that "here we are — we finally got here."
The June trip was widely reported as Fury's first visit to the United States since his October 2021 trilogy bout with Deontay Wilder. Fury's manager later denied speculation that the appearance signaled a promotional deal with White's Zuffa Boxing operation, insisting Frank Warren remains Fury's promoter while Turki Alalshikh continues to underwrite his fights and had arranged the White House visit.
Tickets for the December 11 showdown, set to stream on Netflix, went on sale this month with the cheapest seats priced at £75. White's comments explain one of the odder episodes of the fight's buildup — and confirm his production team has been involved in the promotion from far earlier than the official announcement suggested.