Boxing
Dana White ‘doesn’t get’ Eddie Hearn’s deal with Tom Aspinall; he was not impressed with boxing promoters
Published
7 months agoon
LONDON – Dana White said he “doesn’t understand” Eddie Hearn’s move to sign UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall to his newly formed Matchroom Talent Agency, adding that he has seen “less than nothing” from boxing promoters since getting involved in the sport.
Earlier this month, Aspinall signed a contract with Matchroom promoter Hearn, which will allow him to continue fighting in the UFC while Hearn and Matchroom look after his business and commercial interests.
The move came after White and his Zuffa Boxing promotion signed one of Matchroom’s top talents, Conor Benn, to a lucrative one-fight deal, which Hearn said was “devastating”.
Between the two, White questions Hearn’s decision to enter the MMA world.
“I don’t know what the thought process was [behind the move]– White told reporters after Saturday’s UFC event in London.
“Eddie would come out and say, ‘Oh, I can’t wait to compete against them [Zuffa boxing].
“And there are things they don’t know about boxing that they will learn.” And two weeks later he is an MMA manager. I don’t understand the movement.”
Pressed on how the UFC and Hearn negotiated, White was confident it would have no impact on the company’s ability to arrange another Aspinall fight.
He has also been characteristically blunt about the potential challenges that the likes of Frank Warren and other promoters will pose to boxing at Zuffa, admitting that he has been “disappointed” so far, as well as making a scathing assessment of the state of the sport today.
“We’ve dealt with some f***ing beauties over the last 25 years. I can promise you that,” White said.
“Eddie Hearn won’t be different. It doesn’t matter who the managers are. It doesn’t matter at all. We will make deals with the guys.
“Anyone who wants to compete. I love competing. To be sincere, I haven’t seen anyone in the boxing industry yet.
“I saw little more than nothing with these guys, and the last press conference I had after the last boxing match was quite disappointing, to be sincere.
“I expected a lot more. But when you look at the state of boxing, I don’t think it’s that substantial of a surprise.”
Since Hearn and Aspinall reached an agreement, the British promoter has been open about the ongoing pay issues with UFC fighters, and speaking after the weekend’s Matchroom showdown, Hearn told one of the biggest stories in MMA.
“[Jon Jones and Aspinall] are covered by the contract. If they didn’t have a contract, I could have done Aspinall against Jon Jones and I would probably pay them double what the UFC offered them,” he said.
His comments came later Jon Jones said that he was “ready, willing and physically able to step in” to fight at UFC Freedom 250 at the White House in June, but was not offered the financial package he felt was worth it.
White himself responded to those comments in London when asked by ESPN, but reiterated that he believed Jones would never be on the most essential card in the company’s history, even though he acknowledged negotiations had taken place.
“Jon Jones has never fought on a White House card. How many times have I had to say that? He’s never fought on a White House card,” White said.
“I literally did two press conferences talking about this. These guys [matchmakers] they went out, found everything they thought was available and possible. And then I chose fights.
“There’s no way in hell I can put him on the card. It didn’t matter what the money was. Jon Jones was never going to fight on the White House card.”
You may like
Boxing
Tyson Fury Unleashes Wilder KO Strategy to Overcome Anthony Joshua
Published
58 minutes agoon
November 2, 2026
Tyson Fury is going back to the playbook behind his most destructive night. He is targeting 280 pounds when he meets Anthony Joshua on December 11 in Cardiff. He wants the crushing bulk that battered Deontay Wilder years ago. Scaling up to that number on the scales is easy. Recreating that vintage menace nearly seven years later is a totally different story.
Fury announced his intentions directly to his fans online. “Big boy 280lbs incoming,” he posted. “Not your average build. However, the love handles are used for energy.” He already promised a blistering pace out of the gate, followed by a quick stoppage.
Back in February 2020, Fury stepped on the scale at 273 pounds before stopping Wilder in round seven. That was Fury at his peak as an aggressive bruiser. He bullied Wilder backward. He draped his weight over the champion, forcing him to haul around all that mass. Wilder could never find the space needed to trigger his lethal right hand.
Every single pound had a purpose back then because Fury used his bulk masterfully. He smothered Wilder immediately after throwing punches. He disrupted every attempt to recover. He kept trapping Wilder in corners where mounting any counter was nearly impossible. It was relentless physical pressure from a guy focused on total control.
Joshua is a distinct challenge, yet the logic makes total sense. Giving Joshua breathing room allows him to set his feet to unleash heavy shots. Chasing him down can trigger panic before his offense even starts. Fury would immediately test Joshua’s nerves under fire.
The big worry is the condition of those 280 pounds. Fury reached 281 pounds for the rematch against Oleksandr Usyk, looking soft around the waist. That outing provided zero evidence that piling on weight makes him more dangerous.
To handle Joshua, Fury needs agile footwork to cut off escape routes. He needs sharp reflexes to slip incoming fire. He needs enough gas in the tank to keep pressing once the initial charge fades. If Joshua survives that opening assault, the extra pounds could become a heavy burden as the rounds accumulate.
Fury picked a blueprint with real history. Replicating the monster who conquered Wilder is the real challenge.
Boxing
Shakur Stevenson Analyzes Canelos Decision Victory Over Christian Mbilli for WBC Title
Published
8 hours agoon
November 2, 2026
Canelo Alvarez returned to the super-middleweight throne with a decision victory over Christian Mbilli on Saturday, and when summarising the performance, pound-for-pound star Shakur Stevenson made his thoughts on the display extremely clear.
At 36-years-old, off the back of both the longest inactive streak of his career and a defeat last time out, Canelo entered the Riyadh ring with many fight fans doubting whether the career of the Mexican superstar was nearing the end.
However, the four-division world champion instead recaptured the WBC super-middleweight title as he handed Mbilli a first career defeat.
Canelo’s experience, ring IQ and accuracy ultimately proving to be too much for the French-Cameroonian champion as he won a unanimous decision with scores of 115-112, 116-111 and 117-110.
That performance has once again made Alvarez the man to beat in the 168lb scene, with each of his fellow world titleholders at the weight desperate to secure a lucrative unification opportunity on his mooted spring 2027 return.
Speaking shortly after witnessing the win, reigning WBO super-lightweight champion Stevenson took to X to praise the efforts of Canelo both on the night and across his career as a whole, labelling the veteran as both a ‘GOAT’ and a ‘legend’.
Canelo is a 🐐, Respect legend!! @canelo
— Shakur Stevenson (@ShakurStevenson) November 1, 2026
“Canelo is a [GOAT]Respect legend!!! @canelo”
As far as what is next for Alvarez, it seems as though he will fight again in in either April or May for the final bout of his four-fight contract with Riyadh Season.
At present, Hamzah Sheeraz would likely be deemed as the frontrunnerif Terence Crawford refuses to comeback for the rematch.
Boxing
Tim Bradleys Honest Assessment of Christian Mbillis Performance in Canelo Alvarez Defeat
Published
8 hours agoon
November 2, 2026
Canelo Alvarez once again reigns as a super-middleweight world champion after defeating Christian Mbilli on Saturday, and two-division world champion Tim Bradley has offered his thoughts on the win.
Ahead of the bout, there were doubts as to whether a 36-year-old Canelo still had the hunger and desire to come out on top in a potential firefight, as Mbilli vowed to take the fight to the Mexican and spring the upset.
However, the intelligence of the four-division world champion shone through on fight night as the veteran claimed a unanimous-decision win with one of his most impressive displays in recent years.
On his YouTube channelBradley suggested that part of Canelo’s success was down to him being able to intimidate Mbilli and throw the French-Cameroonian off his game plan.
“Man that dude p***ed down his leg! He got in the ring with Canelo, he felt that presence of Canelo. You can slow a motherf***a down just with your presence! Just you being right there, like you the boogeyman.
“He has been watching Canelo tear up stuff over the years, Mbilli, and he finally got in the ring with his a** and he was just like ‘oh, yeah this is a different level, these lights is too bright!’.
“Man, he got spooked last night. Damn, Mbilli got spooked last night. All of the muscles that he has got, I am like ‘man come on, at least go for it,’ but he was scared to get countered.
“They came in with an entirely different game plan, he lost his identity last night, that is how bad that s**t was.”
Bradley then went on to declare his belief that Canelo has a lot more to give to the sport, shunning any idea that Alvarez should soon hang up the gloves.
“He has got a lot left in the tank and he showed that last night when he tamed that damn Mbilli, that was supposed to be coming and throwing all of these punches.
“That motherf***a threw all of these punches and he missed all of them damn shots!”
Canelo is understood to have one fight left on his contract with Riyadh Season but, as of right now, he looks unlikely to be able to secure his targeted opponent for that outing.
Tyson Fury Unleashes Wilder KO Strategy to Overcome Anthony Joshua
Shakur Stevenson Analyzes Canelos Decision Victory Over Christian Mbilli for WBC Title
Tim Bradleys Honest Assessment of Christian Mbillis Performance in Canelo Alvarez Defeat
Trending
-
Boxing2 days agoMunguia Retains WBA Title Amidst Defensive Concerns in Decision Victory Over Zon
-
Boxing2 days agoCanelo Alvarez Recaptures WBC Title with Dominant Victory Over Christian Mbilli
-
Boxing2 days agoCanelo Alvarez vs. Christian MBilli Live Results: Fight Summary & Highlights
-
MMA2 days agoUFC Vegas 123: 'Moicano vs. Nolan' Live Results and Highlights
-
Boxing2 days agoCanelo vs Mbilli Fight Scorecard: Live Round by Round Updates
-
Boxing2 days agoRyan Garcia Discusses Mayweather as Team Aims for Teofimo Lopez Showdown
-
MMA1 day agoJasmine Jasudavicius eyes Natalia Silva title rematch in Toronto
-
Boxing1 day agoJake Paul Analyzes Canelos Impressive Decision Victory Over Christian Mbilli


