Dana White Criticizes Boxing Promoters as 'Soft'
UFC President Dana White blasted rival boxing promoters Eddie Hearn and Oscar De La Hoya for what he calls "soft" practices in the sport. White derided a perceived lack of competitive pushback and compared the current climate to "beating up babies," while also emphasizing the UFC's commitment to giving fighters opportunities.
- The criticism follows the launch of White's Zuffa Boxing, which began holding events in late 2025 and secured a broadcast deal with Paramount+. - White's venture aims to bypass traditional boxing structures by creating its own Zuffa Boxing title and rankings, ignoring the established sanctioning bodies like the IBF, WBA, WBC, and WBO. - Eddie Hearn, a frequent target of White's criticism, responded by saying White "can't lace my boots in boxing" and that he is ready for the competition, viewing White's entry into the sport as a positive development. - The feud with Oscar De La Hoya is long-standing, with White recently calling him "mentally ill" and pointing to De La Hoya's financial issues and lawsuits with his own fighters. - A key difference in their business models is that the UFC operates as a single, centralized entity controlling everything from promotion to regulation, whereas boxing has a fragmented structure with multiple promoters and sanctioning bodies. - White argues that the UFC's pay structure, where a percentage of pay-per-view revenue is shared among all fighters, is better for the athletes' financial well-being than boxing's model, which he claims only benefits a few top stars. - The Zuffa Boxing project is financially backed by Saudi Arabia and is part of a joint venture between TKO Group Holdings and the Saudi Arabian General Entertainment Authority. - After just three Zuffa Boxing events, White claimed he was "beating up babies," expressing shock at the lack of competitive pushback from established boxing promoters.
