Boxing
Eddie Hearn’s real question about Dana White and boxing
Published
3 months agoon
This matters more than the rivalry that followed.
Hearn did not dispute White’s interview or business history. He questioned his knowledge of boxing itself, whether someone who didn’t know the fighters, rankings and recent history could confidently sell the sport, and whether boxing could function as a side project rather than the main focus.
These questions gained importance due to the course of the first evening of Zuffa Boxing.
The UFC Apex debut was peaceful, with a constrained crowd and fights that passed without a moment’s notice. There was no urgency in the room, no clear signal of intent. For a start backed by sedate money, the night seemed cautious.
This context changed the way Hearn’s comments were heard.
When Hearn talks about selling as a communication of emotion, he doesn’t provide a slogan. It describes how boxing usually survives. Fighters are in high demand and promoters are judged by how well they know the fighters in front of them, and this distinction has become the focus of Hearn’s attention. White runs a system based on structure and brand loyalty that doesn’t require the CEO to explain each candidate in detail to keep fans engaged because the brand itself carries much of the weight.
What Hearn meant wasn’t that White couldn’t learn boxing, but that learning it while being completely invested in something else created a gap that quickly became apparent when the person running the project seemed detached from the fighters on the card. That’s why the criticism was operational, not personal, and why Zuffa Boxing’s debut attracted attention even though the fights themselves weren’t the issue.
Zuffa Boxing’s debut was not successful because the fights were faint. Boxing has many evenings that come and go quietly, especially outside of vital dates. The problem is that the program didn’t announce itself. It hasn’t set a tone or direction, nor has it explained why this league exists or how it intends to differentiate itself.
This absence sharpened Hearn’s argument.
Promoters who make a living in the pits tend to overpay on the first night. They connect moments, rely on names and emphasize presence. The restrained approach suggested caution rather than control.
Hearn had been in this situation often enough to recognize it. The comments sounded more familiar than provocative.
He even admitted that there was an obvious similarity. Hosting MMA events would put him in the same position, talking about a sport he doesn’t follow on a daily basis and couldn’t sell with the same confidence. The confession was not modest. That was the context.
Boxing tends to reveal who is close to him and who is not.
None of this means that Zuffa Boxing can’t work. Money and access buy time, and White has built dominant structures before. But Hearn’s comments highlight a tension that won’t abate any time soon. Boxing responds to presence. He also notices the absence.
The first night did not resolve this issue. It raised it.
Hearn wasn’t going to get into a fight. He drew the line between oversight and commitment, between running the box and being next to him. Zuffa Boxing’s next steps will show where it falls.
For now, the debut suggests that boxing responds quickly when commitment appears partial.
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Boxing
Victor Ortiz was knocked out by Floyd Mayweather, but names an opponent who was ‘much better’
Published
1 hour agoon
April 25, 2026
Floyd Mayweather’s last knockout victory over a legal opponent came in 2011 against Victor Ortiz, but despite the stoppage loss, the fighter known as “Vicious” claims he once fought a much better opponent.
It was a highly controversial moment when Mayweather knocked out Ortiz for the WBC welterweight title more than a decade ago, and the fourth round of their fight turned out to be full of drama.
Ortiz threw combinations on the ropes against Mayweather, but then got reckless and led with his head, prompting the referee to deduct a point.
With Ortiz paying no attention to the resumption of the fight, Mayweather fired a tough shot that knocked down and then knocked out his opponent, proving the elderly adage to always protect yourself.
Mayweather is undoubtedly the biggest name Ortiz has ever adopted, but while the boxing legend can be considered one of the best of all time, Ortiz told TalkSport that Andre Berto was better.
“He (Mayweather) is not the best opponent I’ve faced. Without a doubt, not. The best opponent I’ve faced was Andre Berto; he was much better. Andre Berto is a top-shelf pound-for-pound king. He knocked me down, I knocked him down, he got up, he knocked me down again.”
“This man showed everything: quality, heart, skill. Whatever, he’s got it. Someone like Floyd has what? Counter, running? That same year, I bought him some sprint shots at a press conference. My brother also bought him a box of tampons.
“But Andre Berto is special. I have the utmost respect for him. He has power in both hands; he is the total package. Someone with Floyd can’t compete with that.”
Ortiz defeated Berto to win the WBC welterweight title in a fight before facing Mayweather, which would be the first defeat of Berto’s professional career.
Berto’s final record was 32 wins and 6 losses, and during their meeting in September 2015, he suffered a one-sided defeat to Mayweather himself.
Mayweather competed just once again after the Berto fight, when he knocked out MMA fighter Conor McGregor in August 2017, although he is scheduled to return to fight former opponent Manny Pacquiao in September provided that the current problems can be solved.
Many fans on social media suspect that Miller is once again chasing Joshua just to secure a huge payday, which he threw away when failed drug tests canceled their 2019 fight.
Joshua wants a tune-up before he finally meets Tyson Fury. The plan is to shake off the rust and keep his record pristine before this huge event happens. This gap in the schedule gives other heavyweights a chance to make their voices heard, and Miller takes advantage of the moment.
Miller is still a controversial name, but he knows how to cause offense. Beating Pero would aid him prove that he still belongs in this conversation.
“Your whooping cough will come sooner or later. You can run, but you can’t hide,” Jarrell Miller said on Matchroom.
From a business perspective, Joshua’s team is focused on the Tyson Fury event. Facing an aggressive, volume hitter like Miller in a comeback fight would be risky. If Joshua wins, critics may view it as defeating a challenger who has spent years outside the elite mix. If he loses, Fury’s payout and his position will take damage.
Miller has built much of his reputation on noise and confrontation, but he’s still trying to fight his way into the majors. A victory over Pero won’t put him in a fight with Joshua right away, but it will keep him in the wider discussion.
Joshua’s team may still choose the safer and more controlled option of a return, especially if negotiations with Fury progress behind the scenes. Risking that payday against a hazardous or inconvenient opponent wouldn’t make much sense.
Still, Miller continues to cling to the story whenever Joshua’s name resurfaces in the headlines. Heavyweight boxing has a long memory, and some unfinished fights remain useful long after the first fall.
Olly Campbell is a boxing journalist covering this sport since 2014, providing reports from the ring and technical analyzes of the most vital fights. His work focuses on fighter tendencies, tactical adjustments and the details that shape high-level competition.
Boxing
Terence Crawford names one fight he would like to see against Gervonta Davis this year
Published
5 hours agoon
April 25, 2026
Terence Crawford has named an opponent he would “love to face” with Gervonta Davis in his expected return to the sport.
The former world champion hasn’t fought since March 2025, when many felt he was lucky to draw with Lamont Roach.
Nevertheless, “Tank” retained the WBA lightweight title and was scheduled to face Roach in an immediate rematch before negotiating an exhibition match with Jake Paul.
But instead of spending time with the YouTuber-turned-boxer, Davis was forced to deal with domestic violence allegations from his former partner, Courtney Rossel.
Since then The 31-year-old was recognized by the WBA as a “breaktime champion”.urged by No. 1 contender Floyd Schofield to book their fight or give him a free shot at the title.
Davis, however, has expressed greater interest in a rematch with Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz at 140 pounds, even though he passed the Mexican in 2021.
Meanwhile, Crawford has no desire to watch “Tank” fight Schofield or Cruz, but he would happily sit back and watch him clash with Shakur Stevenson.
I’m talking to Danielle Pirello“Bud” called the WBO super lightweight world champion the perfect opponent for Davis, believing their potential meeting would be one of the best fights that could be had.
“I’d like to see Shakur vs. ‘Tank’ Davis.”
Stevenson had previously called on Davis to sign a contract several times, perhaps making him increasingly doubtful whether the Baltimore player would ever sign.
Therefore, it is unrealistic to expect an immediate fight between “Tank” and Stevenson, especially after the latter’s dominant performance against Teofimo Lopez in January.
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Victor Ortiz was knocked out by Floyd Mayweather, but names an opponent who was ‘much better’
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