By Charles Brun: Tyson Fury is claiming victory already after his opponent Dillian Whyte failed to show up for their first press conference on Tuesday in London for their massive clash on April 23rd at Wembley Stadium, England.
(Courtesy: Queensberry Promotions)
WBC heavyweight champion Fury (31-0-1, 22 KOs) views Whyte’s failure to attend the kickoff press conference as a signal that he’s already waving the white flag of surrender, giving up without a fight, running from the battlefield.
Fury laughed afterward, gleefully enjoying himself at Whyte’s expense in ripping him apart in front of the media.
In hindsight, it would have been better if Whyte had (28-2, 19 KOs) had shown up today because at least he would have given Fury less material to humiliate him.
Not showing up for a press conference for a fight of this magnitude, there are no words to describe how bizarre that move is by Dillian.
“He’s missed out on a big event, this idiot,” said Tyson Fury to Top Rank Boxing on Whyte, opting not to attend the kickoff press conference. “It’s a bit silly. Like I was saying, it’s a disappointment for his family, his kids and all.”
“Him not coming here so I couldn’t get in his mind means I’m already in his mind, so I’m living in his mind rent-free,” said Fury to iFL TV in enjoying Whyte not showing up for Tuesday’s kickoff press conference.
Tyson can’t believe Whyte didn’t show up today 🤯 pic.twitter.com/XH4hEkBJFu
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) March 1, 2022
“I’ve won,” said Fury in analyzing the meaning of Whyte failing to appear today for the press conference to promote their April 23rd fight at Wembley Stadium in London. “I know I’m going to win the fight, that’s it.
“Because he didn’t want to face me,” Fury said when asked what the overriding reason for Whyte’s no-show was. “He’s getting 32 times his biggest payday. He’s getting eight million dollars,” said Fury about Whyte.
It’s difficult to understand what Whyte had hoped to accomplish by not showing up today.
If Dillian intended to hurt the promoters for not giving him the 55/45 purse split he wanted, it backfired on him. What we saw today with Fury dominating the promotion like a stand-up comedian made it abundantly clear that Whyte was NOT needed.
“Do you think I need him? Did you see what happened today? I’m a one-man army, I’m a one-man-band show,” said Fury about Whyte. “I don’t need an opponent to talk. What are they doing to say? Three words and then pass the question on,” said Fury on him NOT needing Whyte for ANY of the press conferences.
It’s easy to predict now that Whyte won’t attend any of the press conferences to promote his fight with Fury, and it’s likely going to hurt his career. But Whyte will have made enough money from the struggle to where he can retire live well without want.
“I held this today on my own singlehandedly. I even had an invisible face-off. I don’t need anybody to sell a fight. People know what they’re going to get when I come to the ring, entertained.
“It wasn’t that he wasn’t wanted or wasn’t invited. It was that he was irrelevant here because he wants to be the big promoter, but he’s lost two big purse bids in a row,” said Fury in addressing Matchroom Boxing Eddie Hearn’s comments about him not being wanted at the press conference.
If you thought @DillianWhyte missing today’s presser would stop @Tyson_Fury from having a face-off…
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) March 1, 2022
“So, in your face, mush. Frank Warren is the new power in these waters again, so sit down, boy,” Fury continued in gloating about Hearn coming up short in the purse bid.
“Sit down and come back when you’ve got the Hall of Fame behind you. Until then, stuff it,” said Fury.
