Addressing the growing speculation surrounding White’s possible role, Sauerland explained why he believes the UFC president could help expand the event’s reach beyond Britain.
“If Turki wants Dana to run it, it makes total sense because he’s got American eyeballs,” Sauerland told Seconds Out.
“There’ll be a strategical reason in the event that they want to usher in Dana White. In the event that they’re going to usher in Dana White, it should have something to do, I might assume, with America, where this fight means little or no.
“Currently, it’s an enormous fight within the UK. I mean, huge doesn’t quite do it justice. It’s ginormous here, but in America, it’s not like individuals are queuing up to observe that fight.”
Sauerland also pointed to White’s success in constructing the UFC right into a dominant force within the American combat sports market.
“Bringing in Dana brings in that kind of UFC element to it,” Sauerland said. “Let’s face it, MMA in America over the past 15, 20 years has been the dominant combat sport in America.
“Boxing, when boxing works in America, remains to be by far the largest sport. So, I can understand it from a business standpoint of why they could do it.”
White has turn into an increasingly influential figure in boxing through his partnership with Turki Alalshikh and the launch of Zuffa Boxing. Although no agreement has been announced for Fury and Joshua to finally meet within the ring, Sauerland’s comments highlight why White’s involvement may extend beyond promotional novelty.
The heavyweight rivalry has long been one among boxing’s biggest unrealized events. While the competition would likely sell out a stadium in Britain no matter who promoted it, Sauerland believes Dana White’s ability to achieve casual combat sports fans in the USA could elevate Joshua versus Fury into a really global spectacle.
