Eddie Hearn has given Dana White a four-week deadline to get his new boxing league off to a strong start and avoid falling flat out of the gate.
Hearn and White once had a solid working relationship, but things have changed as they now find themselves on opposite sides of the ring as promoters. And Hearn has been clear that the UFC boss needs to deliver something big if Zuffa Boxing is going to get off the ground properly.
But it looks like White might be taking a different approach. According to leaked documents, the first event is expected to take place at the UFC Apex. The venue has been criticised in MMA circles for its lack of atmosphere, with many fans finding events there hard to watch.
Eddie Hearn tells Dana White to avoid Zuffa Boxing ‘dud’ start
White is scheduled to launch his new Zuffa Boxing league next month on Paramount+. The inaugural event will be held at the Apex, coinciding with the UFC’s first fight week of the year. However, Hearn believes the event is shaping up to be a flop, with less than a month remaining until fight night.
When questioned by Ariel Helwani about TKO Group head Nick Khan dismissing him in interviews, Hearn commented: “They are very bullish, like me.”
“They’re arrogant and they think they’re going to come in and dominate boxing.
“But it’s not going to happen. Haven’t they got a show on January 23? That’s their first show, right? It’s a month away. So I’ve got no idea. You’ve got to come out of the blocks with a bang, you can’t come out with something lame.
“What are you going to do, do a show in the Apex to launch TKO Boxing? It’s got to be a monster and with four weeks to go how much of a monster can it be? As I’ve said before, these guys that we’re up against, I want to be up against them.
“Whether we are product-wise, we’ll see very soon but they’re very good, they’re very smart and they’re very connected. Boxing is boxing. I just can’t explain it and if they come out weak on January 23, everybody is waiting to give them an absolute shillacking.
“So many people in boxing want them to fail and I don’t think they will fail. But if they get it wrong and it stinks the place out in January? The worst thing they could do is come out with something poor.”
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