The long-standing verbal sparring between boxing promoter Eddie Hearn and UFC CEO Dana White has escalated further. Hearn recently responded to White’s cutting remarks, which were made during a Zuffa Boxing post-fight press conference last weekend. During his address, White had not only criticized Hearn but also lambasted other promoters, dismissing the Matchroom Sport chairman as a meaningful rival.
White’s comments were pointed: “Is he [Eddie Hearn] a rival promoter? I haven’t seen a f***ing rival anything from Eddie Hearn or any of these other guys. He’s a manager now. Who gives a sh*t? We deal with lots of different people. I wouldn’t call Eddie Hearn a rival or anything. He’s a manager. There’s a f***ing million of them, and we deal with them all… What is Eddie Hearn going to bring to the management table that we haven’t seen in the last 25 years? No, nothing.”
Hearn Calls Dana White ‘All Talk’ and Slams Zuffa Boxing’s Performance
Eddie Hearn was quick to issue a sharp retort. Appearing on The Ariel Helwani Show, the 46-year-old asserted his belief that Dana White is ill-suited for the complexities of the boxing business. Hearn expressed surprise at what he perceived as White’s premature “implosion” within the boxing realm, given White’s prior outspokenness.
The British promoter highlighted White’s contradictory behavior, noting that White has been taking swipes at him for months – allegedly calling him derogatory names and even challenging him to a boxing match – only to then claim Hearn is no longer a competitor. Hearn directly challenged this stance: “Boxing is not for him. It’s the worst business in the world. And I did not expect him to implode this early… He has called me a pu**y 5-6 times; he has called me out for a fight, A Fight! And then, he says I’m not competition. I will be honest with you. I agree. In boxing right now, he cannot lace my boots.”
Hearn further castigated Zuffa Boxing, declaring that its offerings have been merely “bang-average content.” He argued that White has no basis for pride, as Zuffa Boxing, with only four shows under its belt, is “not even out of the garage yet.” Hearn contrasted Zuffa Boxing’s events, which he likened to those held at the Meta APEX, with Matchroom’s track record of selling out major stadium shows. He challenged White to demonstrate what makes Zuffa Boxing truly “special.”
“He’s sitting there and spinning the narrative like he’s creating these unbelievable blockbuster shows in stadiums,” Hearn commented. “He ain’t out the garage yet. Literally, four shows in, and absolute bang-average content… They have done nothing at all. And Dana coming out, losing his rag, blood pressure going through the roof, calling me this and calling me that, but not actually doing anything… Show me what you are doing is special.”