The DAZN Boxing Show considered the effect of Dillian Whyte failing to turn up for his press conference with Tyson Fury.
Whyte has reportedly been unhappy with the terms of his deal to fight for the WBC world heavyweight championship and has largely been silent in recent weeks. He fights Fury on April 23rd at Wembley Stadium, and ahead of the clash it was Fury alone who sat in front of the press, without his rival.
Akin ‘Ak’ Reyes and Barak Bess considered the effect his absence might have had on the current champion.
Barak said, “That’s what silence does, sometimes, when people are waiting for a reaction. Fury does things for a reaction and gets under your skin. When you’re silent, it gets people wondering.
“Now I hear he’s holding out because he wants more money to promote the fight. This could be part of the mind games too.
"What I’m saying is, these kinds of mind games, all it did is just give Fury access to be the only one at the press conference, and centre of attention, which he loves anyway. I don’t think it bothers him.”
Ak saw Whyte’s decision as one that will have limited effect.
“At the end of the day these guys will share the squared circle,” he began.
“I don’t think him showing up makes any difference to how it plays out.
“I’m concerned [Fury’s] hinting at retirement. This whole country needs to see [Anthony] Joshua vs. Fury. That’s still a fight that everybody needs to see happen down the line even if it’s 2023.
"I don’t buy it, I think Fury continues to play mind games with the public.”