UFC chief executive Dana White has predicted that the heavyweight showdown between British-Nigerian Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury will not go the full distance, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
White, who is involved in the December 11 fight at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, made the prediction in an interview with Sun Boxing. He stopped short of naming a winner but promised a great heavyweight contest and expects a knockout win.
“Going to be a great heavyweight fight. I do not see it going the distance. And I am happy that I get to be there live,” White said.
The American explained how he came to be part of the event, saying, “Turki wanted me to be a part of this thing. Netflix wanted me to be a part of this thing, and so I am. That is it.
“If they did not want me to be a part of it, you would not see me trying to fight my way into the AJ-Fury fight. I was asked to do this, and I accepted it.”
White admitted he had reservations about taking on another major boxing project after the lengthy negotiations over Floyd Mayweather’s crossover fight with Conor McGregor.
He also credited promoter Eddie Hearn and Joshua for ensuring the fight stayed in the United Kingdom, despite his own ongoing promotional dispute with Hearn. White said the fight could have succeeded at Madison Square Garden in New York, but backed the choice of Cardiff.
“There are a lot of different forces involved in an event like this.”
With how many tickets are sold in Cardiff, as big as the arena is, it would have done very well at Madison Square Garden too. But you have to credit Eddie and AJ for fighting hard to keep it in the UK. This fight was going to do well wherever it was,” White said.
The fight will stream globally on Netflix.
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