Eddie Hearn makes eye-opening remark about Dana White's venture into boxing
Eddie Hearn is supportive of the idea of Dana White making his way into the boxing world. Hearn asserted that White's involvement in boxing is a positive move for the sport as he can bring in a lot of opportunities and excitement.
White, who has long been interested in boxing, has been working behind the scenes to develop a strategy for his new business venture. In a press conference on Sept. 19, before a boxing event in Dublin that featured Callum Walsh as the main attraction, the UFC CEO acknowledged his foray into boxing by teasing significant news to come.
In a recent interview with Sports Business Journal, Hearn discussed White's potential influence on boxing, saying:
''Frustratingly for him [White], because it’s a real different model. He’s a very bright guy that’s incredibly successful...And boxing, with its advisors and lawyers and managers, is very, very different and very frustrating... It won’t be easy to come in and be a major player at the elite level of the sport.
Hearn added that although White might have a different approach to business, the Brit would welcome the 55-year-old into the world of boxing with open arms.
''I feel like their model might be different. It might be some kind of smaller league of guys that you’re not aware of, but love to work with those guys. I mean, they’re a huge company and I think with the right guidance and right partners, they could have an incredibly positive effect on the sport. I hope Dana gets involved in boxing, I think it’d be great for us.”
Hearn and White have a good relationship with Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority chairman Turki Alalshikh, who took the squared circle market by storm in recent years by organizing fan-favorite boxing matchups.
Along with Hearn, many others supported White's entry into boxing, including boxing legend Mike Tyson and UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.
When Teddy Atlas gave his nod to Dana White entering the boxing world
Boxing coach and commentator Teddy Atlas previously backed Dana White's decision to start his boxing promotion. In an interview with Submission Radio, Atlas stated that White would revolutionize the sport with the help of Turki Alalshikh.
He said:
''Turki Alalshikh came along from Saudi [Arabia] with the money, and in the last year he made fights that the sport needs. Dana White does that. He’s been doing that forever over at the UFC. Yeah, I know it’s one guy in charge and people call him a dictator. Listen, if a dictator ain’t chopping heads off and he’s getting things done, sometimes maybe we could learn a little something."
Check out Teddy Atlas' comments below (21:59):