Combat sports promoter Dana White has voiced openness to a boxing match with his rival, Eddie Hearn, a suggestion that escalates their increasingly public dispute over talent and market control.
The provocations come as White's TKO Group Holdings makes a significant push into the boxing landscape through a new league, backed by Saudi financier Turki Alalshikh. This expansion appears to be drawing the ire of established players like Hearn, whose Matchroom Boxing has seen key figures, including Conor Benn, move to White's new venture.
White, speaking in recent interviews, stated his willingness to settle differences in the ring, referencing his past involvement in boxing and management. The UFC CEO, now 56, suggested he is ready to step back into physical confrontation if Hearn desires. This comes after Hearn signed Tom Aspinall, the current UFC heavyweight champion, to his Matchroom Talent Agency, a move that seems to have further ignited the feud.
Hearn, 46, has publicly questioned White's intentions in boxing and expressed admiration for the UFC's business model, while also asserting that Hearn's Matchroom will not be "steamrolled." The rivalry, once described as cordial, has intensified considerably with White's entry into boxing and the recruitment of talent previously associated with Matchroom.
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White's willingness to engage physically, despite acknowledging his age and past athletic endeavors, underscores the escalating tensions. He has previously alluded to setting up a boxing match with Tito Ortiz that did not materialize. His current statements suggest a readiness to confront Hearn directly, signaling a broader battle for dominance between the two promotional entities.
BACKGROUND
The friction between White and Hearn has become a focal point in the combat sports world. White's strategic move into boxing, reportedly with substantial financial backing, positions him as a direct competitor to Hearn's long-standing influence in the sport. The signing of high-profile fighters to White's new boxing venture has visibly amplified the animosity, turning what was a professional rivalry into a more personal and confrontational exchange. White's past experience as a boxing trainer and manager adds a layer of credibility to his claims of ring readiness, even as the spectacle of promoters potentially engaging in a physical contest takes center stage.
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