Dana White, the UFC president, is no stranger to stirring up controversy, but even he was taken aback by the sudden shift in Eddie Hearn's demeanor. White's new venture, Zuffa Boxing, is set to launch in 2026, and it's causing quite a stir in the boxing world. While White knew he'd ruffle some feathers, he never expected his old friends in the sport to join the fray.
Zuffa Boxing aims to revolutionize boxing by bringing the UFC's promotional style to the sport. With a long-term broadcast deal with Paramount and a new law in Congress, the promotion is set to make waves. But this isn't the first time White has taken on the boxing establishment. He's no stranger to clashing with promoters like Bob Arum and Oscar De La Hoya, but Hearn's reaction has been particularly surprising.
In recent months, Hearn has been vocal in his criticism of Zuffa Boxing's plans. He's bashed the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act, which would allow Zuffa to run a promotion similar to the UFC. Hearn has also mocked the compensation Zuffa is offering fighters, claiming it's not enough. But White believes Hearn's reaction is all about protecting his business model.
"Yes, 100 percent [it’s because we’re coming to boxing]," White said. "He’s talking like a politician now. He’s like ‘I look forward to [it], we’re going to beat them, we’re going to do this and we’re going to do that.’ You’ve been here for 25 years. What are you talking about? It’s like the politician who’s running for re-election. He’s going to tell you all the things he’s going to change and do. Well, why didn’t you do that in your last term? That’s Eddie Hearn."
The question remains: is Hearn's reaction a sign of a true competitor, or is it a defensive stance? Only time will tell. But one thing's for sure - Zuffa Boxing is set to shake things up, and the boxing world is taking notice.
