Promoter Eddie Hearn has delivered a blistering critique of UFC president Dana White's decision to introduce a new boxing world title, accusing the mixed martial arts chief of letting his ego run wild. The controversy centres on White's Zuffa Boxing organisation, which will award its inaugural world championship belt next month when cruiserweight Jai Opetaia faces Brandon Glanton in Las Vegas.
Hearn's Scathing Assessment of White's Ambitions
Eddie Hearn, the influential boxing promoter behind Matchroom Sport, has ridiculed Dana White's plans to eventually eliminate all other world titles from boxing. In a candid interview with iFL TV, Hearn expressed disbelief at White's approach, drawing a sharp contrast with his own philosophy.
"Do you think I would disrespect boxing that much where I would say, we are going to bring out the Matchroom Boxing world championship?" Hearn questioned rhetorically. "My ego's out of control, that would have to be... that's beyond anything I could ever fathom or ever bring myself to do."
The Clash Between Tradition and Innovation
While acknowledging that White's Zuffa Boxing might appeal to younger generations in five or ten years, Hearn emphasised the importance of boxing's historical legacy. "I'm telling you, we don't deserve to have a world championship," he stated firmly. "The history and legacy of the sport governs that."
Hearn elaborated with a hypothetical scenario, imagining himself promoting a Matchroom Boxing World Championship to young amateurs: "'Mate, you know what you want to when you grow up, don't ya? The Matchroom Boxing World Championship.' 'Oh do I? Do I, Eddie? Yeah, What's that?' 'It's my new world championship belt. This is going to be the biggest thing in boxing.'"
He then dismissed this notion emphatically: "No, no, you haven't. You've got to win the WBC. You've got to win the WBA."
Invoking Boxing's Legendary Champions
To underscore his point about tradition, Hearn invoked the names of boxing's most iconic figures. "You know the belt that Muhammad Ali won? Do you know the belt that 'Sugar' Ray Leonard won? The belt that Mike Tyson won? Roberto Duran? Larry Holmes? Pernell Whittaker? Shakur Stevenson? Floyd Mayweather?" he asked, highlighting the established sanctioning bodies that have crowned generations of champions.
Despite Opetaia already holding unified world champion status, the Australian cruiserweight now has the opportunity to add White's Zuffa Boxing belt to his collection if he maintains his unbeaten record against Glanton. This development represents White's most significant foray into professional boxing since announcing Zuffa Boxing's formation.
The clash between Hearn and White reflects broader tensions between boxing's traditional structures and new entrants seeking to reshape the sport. While White envisions a simplified championship system under his control, Hearn argues such moves undermine the very fabric of boxing history that gives championships their meaning.
