Before Dana White moved into boxing, he and Eddie Hearn had a good relationship.
Hearn has been a guest at UFC events in the past, showing there was a level of respect between them at one stage.
But that changed when White launched Zuffa Boxing and took aim at the entire boxing industry, including Hearn.
It hasn’t stopped since. The two have continued to trade barbs through the media, even talking up the possibility of stepping into the ring themselves.
Eddie Hearn is frustrated that the media rarely challenge Dana White’s statements, but he does admit the changed relationship has boosted his profile. “He’s always been unbelievably courteous to me,” Hearn told Fight Hub TV.
“It is what it is. I don’t have anything personal to say about him, and it’s just a business and a fight, but this one is out of the ring. It’s Matchroom vs Zuffa, and I love it. It’s a buzz. Everyone is talking about Eddie and Dana fighting, but the real fight is the business.”
The focus remains on Matchroom versus Zuffa, especially after White announced he’d signed Conor Benn to a multi-fight deal following their initial single-fight agreement.
When White entered boxing, he criticised other promoters for lacking vision. But after five shows under his belt, Hearn believes the tables have turned.
“Every time he opens his mouth, he talks about me, which is brilliant for my profile over here (in America)… I don’t really think he knows what’s going on in terms of what other people are doing because they’re so arrogant, they just think what they do is (the only thing happening).
“I don’t think they know what they’re doing in boxing… Where’s the league? We’re six months in, and all we’ve seen is five shows with a load of randoms on it… You’re stuck in the Apex still, are you gonna come out of there and do anything creative?”
The UFC president has indicated that Zuffa will be looking to bring their first boxing card out of Vegas into London later this year, which would allow showcasing their roster on a global stage.
This could be one way for White to silence some critics who continue to voice frustrations with how things are being run. But until then, don’t expect either side to slow down any time soon.
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