{"id":43105,"date":"2026-02-12T22:30:41","date_gmt":"2026-02-13T03:30:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/02\/12\/eddie-hearn-slams-dana-white-for-disrespecting-boxing-with-release-of-zuffa-boxing-belts\/"},"modified":"2026-02-12T22:30:41","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T03:30:41","slug":"eddie-hearn-slams-dana-white-for-disrespecting-boxing-with-release-of-zuffa-boxing-belts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/02\/12\/eddie-hearn-slams-dana-white-for-disrespecting-boxing-with-release-of-zuffa-boxing-belts\/","title":{"rendered":"Eddie Hearn Slams Dana White for Disrespecting Boxing with Release of Zuffa Boxing Belts"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/02\/12\/eddie-hearn-slams-dana-white-for-disrespecting-boxing-with-release-of-zuffa-boxing-belts\/#Eddie_Hearn_challenges_Dana_Whites_ego_over_Zuffa_Boxing_championship_announcement\" >Eddie Hearn challenges Dana White\u2019s ego over Zuffa Boxing championship announcement<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2026\/02\/12\/eddie-hearn-slams-dana-white-for-disrespecting-boxing-with-release-of-zuffa-boxing-belts\/#Possible_future_collaboration_between_Eddie_Hearn_and_Dana_White\" >Possible future collaboration between Eddie Hearn and Dana White<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>Eddie Hearn and Dana White\u2019s relationship appears to be deteriorating following White\u2019s move into the boxing world.<\/p>\n<p>Shortly after the UFC president announced his commitment to boxing, Matchroom promoters expressed skepticism about the new venture. This reaction was notable given the previously strong rapport between Hearn and White. Recently, when White revealed plans to host his first title fight under the Zuffa Boxing banner, Hearn openly criticized the nature of the title being contested.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Eddie_Hearn_challenges_Dana_Whites_ego_over_Zuffa_Boxing_championship_announcement\"><\/span>Eddie Hearn challenges Dana White\u2019s ego over Zuffa Boxing championship announcement<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Earlier this week, White announced that top contender Jay Opetaia will headline Zuffa Boxing 4, facing Brandon Glanton for the Ring Magazine and IBF World Cruiserweight titles. In addition to these world titles, the promotion will also crown its own Zuffa Boxing champion in each weight division.<\/p>\n<p>Hearn, however, expressed displeasure with this approach, questioning White\u2019s decision to introduce a Zuffa Boxing title within the sport. \u201cDo you think I disrespect boxing enough to mention the Matchroom Boxing World Championship?\u201d Hearn remarked during an interview with IFL TV. He added, \u201cMy ego is out of control, but even I can\u2019t imagine going that far.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The 46-year-old promoter further accused Zuffa of disrespecting boxing\u2019s heritage by disregarding the longstanding sanctioning bodies that have shaped the sport for generations.<\/p>\n<p><br \/>\n<em>Dana White speaking at UFC 322 press conference in NYC, Nov 13, 2025. Photo by Chris Unger\/Zuffa LLC<\/em><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Possible_future_collaboration_between_Eddie_Hearn_and_Dana_White\"><\/span>Possible future collaboration between Eddie Hearn and Dana White<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Despite their current public disagreements, there remains a possibility that Hearn and White could join forces on an event down the line. White aims to build the profile of his promising young fighter and is eager to deliver a major bout under the Zuffa Boxing banner. This goal may require cooperation with other established promoters in boxing, including Hearn.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Fan Take:<\/strong> This unfolding clash between two of combat sports\u2019 biggest promoters highlights tensions as UFC and boxing worlds collide. Fans should watch closely, as any future partnership\u2014or continued rivalry\u2014between Hearn and White could significantly influence the sport\u2019s landscape and the promotion of top-tier boxing events.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Eddie Hearn and Dana White\u2019s relationship appears to be deteriorating following White\u2019s move into the boxing world. Shortly after the UFC president announced his commitment to boxing, Matchroom promoters expressed skepticism about the new venture. This reaction was notable given the previously strong rapport between Hearn and White. Recently, when White revealed plans to host [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":43106,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2443],"tags":[2444],"class_list":["post-43105","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-fighting","tag-fighting"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43105","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43105"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43105\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/43106"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43105"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43105"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43105"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}