Why Dillian Whyte will not attend today’s press conference for his showdown with Tyson Fury

The first press conference for Tyson Fury’s world title showdown with Dillian Whyte will take place in London this afternoon – but the challenger will not be present.

The WBC heavyweight title clash between the two Britons was confirmed last week with Wembley Stadium set to host the fight on Saturday 23 April.

A press conference will take place in London at 2pm on Tuesday afternoon but Whyte has opted not to take part and will instead remain at his training base in Portugal.

Fury previously suggested Whyte would snub media events due to financial demands. His co-promoter Bob Arum has now explained Whyte has asked for a further percentage of pay-per-view sales, a request which has so far been ignored.

‘He will not come to the press conference,’ Arum told BoxingScene.com.

‘We won the purse bid, which was way higher than the next biggest bid.

‘And he’s not coming to the press conference because we wouldn’t give him a percentage of the upside [from pay-per-view sales], which you don’t get in a purse bid.

‘He told us he won’t come to any of the press conferences except the last one.’

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Fury’s co-promoter Frank Warren successfully won the purse bid to host the fight at the end of January in what is set to be ‘The Gypsy King’s first fight back in the UK since 2018.

But Whyte has remained silent since it was announced he will receive just 20 per cent of the fight purse – said to be worth £6m with Fury to bank £25m.

Arum however has no concerns over Whyte’s lack of involvement today.

‘I’d be