Eddie Hearn has provided some clarity on his recent remarks regarding Dana White following the launch of White’s first boxing event on Friday night. The evening marked an important milestone for White as he debuted Zuffa Boxing at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas. Although the event was modest in scale, it was supported by the influential sports figure Turki Alarcik and the TKO Group, which includes WWE.
A large crowd gathered at the venue, popular among MMA fans, to watch Ireland’s Callum Walsh face former world title contender Carlos Ocampo. However, the fight itself was fairly uneventful, lacking any major highlights or decisive knockouts.
Since Dana White entered the boxing scene last September with the Alvarez-Crawford bout, his relationship with Eddie Hearn has been tense but has not threatened their longstanding friendship. On The Ariel Helwani Show, Hearn expressed that White’s familiarity with boxing is limited, especially compared to his deep involvement with the UFC. This perceived disinterest has drawn criticism from both fans and rival promoters.
Hearn noted, “We might keep battling or maybe collaborate, but when you hear Dana speak about boxing, it’s clear he doesn’t have deep expertise about fighters or the sport.” He added that White’s passions seem strongly tied to the UFC, suggesting White’s enthusiasm for boxing isn’t as strong. Hearn likened promotion to an emotional connection that drives sales and investment, which he feels is lacking in White’s approach to boxing.
Despite the strained relationship, the two promoters almost met up in Las Vegas last weekend while both were promoting separate events. However, travel challenges delayed their chance to catch up. Hearn explained, “I reached out to Dana to meet, and he responded, but my flight schedule to New York made it impossible to connect this time.”
Fan Take:
This development highlights the ongoing power dynamics between two of combat sports’ biggest figures, Dana White and Eddie Hearn, signaling that the battle for boxing’s future could intensify. For fight fans, their rivalry and potential cooperation may shape the sport’s growth and crossover appeal in the years to come.
