UFC's Dana White Criticizes Boxing Promoters for Lack of Competition
UFC President Dana White sharply criticized rival boxing promoters Eddie Hearn and Oscar De La Hoya for a lack of competitive pushback. White argued that real challenges and rivalries are essential for the health of combat sports, likening the current state of boxing promotion to "beating up babies."
- The criticism stems from Dana White's new venture, Zuffa Boxing, which held its third event on February 15, 2026. White plans for Zuffa Boxing to operate on its own terms, ignoring traditional sanctioning bodies like the WBC and IBF. - White's frustration with the boxing model is long-standing; he has previously stated the sport was "destroyed" by money and that top boxers being paid too much ruined the ecosystem for lower-tier fighters. He argues the UFC's model spreads money out more effectively among all fighters on the roster. - The core operational difference White highlights is structural: the UFC is a single entity controlling everything from promotion to regulations, which allows for streamlined matchmaking. Boxing is fragmented, with different promoters and sanctioning bodies often protecting their own interests, which can prevent major fights from happening. - A classic example of the issues in boxing's promotional model is the five-year delay in making the Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao fight, which was hindered by disputes between rival promoters and networks. - Rival promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing has responded to White's new venture, calling the creation of a "Zuffa Belt" both "cringey" and disrespectful to the sport's established structure. White retorted by saying Hearn lacks vision and has only ever played by boxing's existing, flawed rules. - Oscar De La Hoya of Golden Boy Promotions has also been a frequent target and critic. De La Hoya mocked White's entry into boxing and questioned his promotional tactics during the Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford fight. White has fired back, calling De La Hoya "mentally ill" and pointing to his promotional company's financial struggles. - White's strategy with Zuffa Boxing, backed by the UFC's parent company TKO Group, aims to replicate the UFC's centralized system to create consistent matchups and build fighter personas, a departure from boxing's event-focused model. - Despite White's critique of boxing's pay structure, top-tier boxers can still earn significantly more for a single fight than UFC stars. For example, Tyson Fury reportedly earned over $100 million for his fight with Oleksandr Usyk. White counters that this disparity leaves lower-ranked boxers struggling financially, a problem he claims the UFC model avoids.
