WINNIPEG, Manitoba — The talk of Dana White vs. Eddie Hearn entering the ring appears to be just that talk. After initially calling out Hearn for a boxing match, White is now walking things back, cooling off what briefly became one of the strangest crossover storylines in combat sports.
Speaking following UFC Fight Night 273, White dismissed the idea of the fight becoming reality, taking aim at both the concept and Hearn himself. White criticized the notion that two promoters could headline a boxing card, using it as a broader indictment of the sport. “Eddie says a lot of dumb stuff… Eddie said that me and him are the biggest fight in boxing. Therein lies the problem with boxing,” White said.
He went even further, downplaying both men’s relevance as competitors. “You’re a bum. I’m old. And we don’t even deserve to be on a card with a bunch of real fighters.”
Hearn Fires Back
It didn’t take long for Hearn to respond and he didn’t hold back. Appearing at the post-fight press conference following Ben Whittaker’s win over Braian Suarez, Hearn accused White of backing out of a fight he initiated. “You called me out for a fight, I accepted… so what are you now?” Hearn said. “The only thing that can stop the fight from happening is Dana White.”
Hearn even leaned into the business angle, suggesting the bout could generate massive global interest. “We would main event and sell out a massive stadium… you don’t think we could do over a million buys globally?”
From Business Rivals to Personal Feud
The tension between the two power brokers has intensified throughout 2026. White’s entry into boxing through Zuffa Boxing has directly challenged Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing empire, turning what was once a cordial relationship into a full-blown rivalry.
Key flashpoints include:
- Zuffa Boxing signing Conor Benn, a longtime Matchroom fighter
- Matchroom aligning with Tom Aspinall for representation
- Ongoing criticism of fighter pay, promotional tactics, and business models
The Bigger Picture
While the idea of White vs. Hearn may never materialize, the feud itself is very real and significant.
It represents a broader shift in combat sports:
- MMA power entering boxing’s space
- Promotional wars going public
- Fighter movement between rival entities
In many ways, the verbal sparring between White and Hearn is just a reflection of a much larger battle for control of boxing’s future. For now, the fight appears unlikely. But the storyline? That’s only heating up.
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Robert LaMar is a Deputy Editor for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
