Dana White famously set up a boxing match against Tito Ortiz that sadly never happened but it appears the UFC CEO is ready to throw hands again — this time with a growing business rival.
Since officially launching Zuffa Boxing in January, White has engaged in a war of words with Matchroom Boxing chairman Eddie Hearn after the two previously shared a cordial and friendly relationship as promoters. But lately they’ve been trading insults with White taking the first round of the fight by signing away Conor Benn, who was a staple of Hearn’s roster for many years.
On Thursday, Hearn fired back by signing UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall to represent him in all future business dealings — presumably when it comes time for him to fight again as well. But before that news broke, White addressed his relationship with Hearn and if the two of them might be able to settle their differences in the ring.
“Listen if Eddie wants to box, we can box,” White told Piers Morgan. “We can box if Eddie wants to box. I don’t think Eddie wants to box.”
At 56, White isn’t necessarily in his athletic prime, but then again, he’s undergone painstaking efforts to improve his health in recent years through consistent workouts and better nutrition. As for Hearn, he’s 46 years old and apparently got into the ring to box his father once upon a time.
White admits it probably wouldn’t be the greatest contest in the world but at least they’d be on an even playing field when it comes to age and experience.
“First of all, we’re both too old,” White said. “That would have to be a Jake Paul-Netflix card or we could both fight Jake Paul. We’re in his age bracket of guys he likes to fight.”
All jokes aside, White was once a trainer and before he was the lead executive at the UFC, he was a manager where he worked with fighters like Ortiz and Chuck Liddell. It was actually his interest in combat sports that got his friends Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta interested enough to buy the UFC for $2 million when it appeared the company was headed for bankruptcy.
It’s unclear how often White straps on the gloves these days but he sounds willing to do it again if Hearn wants to meet him in the ring.
“Back in the day, I used to box with all the guys, boxers and UFC guys,” White said. “I have boxed. Absolutely [we could box].”
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