Dana White’s idea of boxing domination has been shut down by one of his new rivals.
In March, the UFC boss announced he’s creating a new boxing league with the sport’s most powerful person, Turki Alalshikh, a Saudi billionaire who has helped make some massive fights in recent years.
Dana White’s revolutionary plan for boxing will see him try to ‘break the sport down’.
However, Eddie Hearn, who is one of the most prominent boxing promoters, doesn’t believe that will be possible.
Eddie Hearn gives Dana White a reality check
Anthony Joshua‘s promoter has often spoken about his admiration for Dana White and the UFC.
However, his tune has changed since the MMA mogul entered the world of boxing with grand plans.
On Tuesday, the chatty Englishman insisted he’s not fearful about a White-Alalshikh boxing takeover.
“Those guys, in my opinion, won’t be able to lace my boots in boxing promotion,” Hearn predicted.
“Now, as a business, as an organization, as UFC, [they are] unbelievable, but this is different. When you go to sleep as a boxing promoter, when you wake up in the morning, nothing is the same. You have to sleep with one eye open every single night.
“This is different. If you think you’re going to control this world, which is what they’ve really done in MMA, and I think that’s a similar model they’ll try to bring into boxing, I don’t think it’s possible.
“It doesn’t matter who is involved, you’ve still gotta come in and beat the system.
“People like me, people like Oscar De La Hoya, people like Bob Arum, people like Frank Warren aren’t gonna roll over and go, ‘Oh, well, it’s been a great run, hasn’t it? TKO is here now’. It’s not going to go down like that.”
Dana White’s plan for boxing
As he watched Callum Walsh score a first-round knockout in New York City last month, White was asked about his plan to ‘fix boxing’ – specifically, what needs to be different in order for TKO Boxing to succeed.
“Ah, where do you begin? Probably, you know, the best fighting the best. I’d start there,” he replied.
“Listen, my model is way different, Turki has things that he’s obligated to over the next 18 months…
“I want to break this sport down and build it from the ground up like we did with the UFC, so I’m on a different path.”