Eddie Hearn is not short on confidence that he would beat Dana White in a boxing match, after the latter called out his rival promoter recently.
This year has seen White, who is the president and CEO of the UFC, venture into boxing promotion. In February, the American even signed Conor Benn, one of Hearn’s star fighters, to Zuffa Boxing in a controversial swoop.
British promoter Hearn, who runs Matchroom Boxing, was previously on good terms with White, but they have become fierce rivals in recent months – so much so that White has called out Hearn for a fight.
There is footage online of White, 56, sparring in boxing rings, while Hearn, 46, fought at an amateur level. And Hearn has suggested that he would have an easy time against White, while also claiming he is winning the promotional war between them.
“Dana’s having a nightmare,” Hearn told Fight Hub TV on Thursday. “Right now, I’ve got to be honest with you, his butt cheeks must be so red raw, because all I’m doing is spanking him, spanking him, spanking him all the time.
“I mean, his UFC’s gone to pot, it’s having the worst year it’s had. The boxing stuff they [Zuffa] are doing is awful. He called me out for a fight, I accepted, he s*** his pants – completely s*** his pants.”
Hearn was referring to what many fans have deemed to be weaker UFC events in recent months. The mixed-martial-arts promotion is actually staging an unprecedented card at the White House on 14 June, but some fans have even played down the quality of the fights there.
“Then they saw some joke picture that someone put out,” Hearn continued, “of hair dye running down my face; he actually thought it was real. He’s had so many Ls [losses]. I don’t know what to say. Unfortunately, I’m living completely rent-free in Dana’s head.
“I’m just disappointed that he didn’t stand up to his word, because if I got him in a ring, I’ll tell you what: I would spank that big Maris Piper potato head all over the gaff.
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“He keeps saying: ‘No one knew who Eddie Hearn was before I started talking about him.’ Well, thank you, Dana; you’ve made me a huge star in America, and our boxing business is flying.”
While a number of Zuffa’s early boxing cards have taken place in the UFC’s small, indoor Apex facility in Las Vegas, the promotion has begun to attract notable athletes – including Benn, Jai Opetaia and Chris Billam-Smith.
Meanwhile, Hearn is readying himself for a long-awaited super-fight later this year, between his boxer Anthony Joshua and fellow British heavyweight Tyson Fury.
That contest between the former champions is expected to take place at Wembley Stadium in October or November, with a rematch on the cards for 2027.
