Dana White wasted no opportunity to rub salt in the wounds in his first public comments since Zuffa Boxing’s shocking robbery of Conor Benn. Just one day after Ben shocked the boxing world by withdrawing from Eddie Hearn’s Match Room fight, White came full circle at Hearn’s expense.
“I think you saw this week, I was literally beating the baby,” White snarled, using an expletive at the post-fight press conference at UFC Houston.
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“Is there a bigger asshole than Eddie Hearn? Is there a bigger asshole than Eddie Hearn? This guy [Benn] Should be your friend. Are you fucking crying? he makes more money [with Zuffa]. He’ll make more money – and [Hearn] Have the right to match it. He could have matched. “
Zuffa Boxing – the new boxing organization led by UFC CEO White, WWE president Nick Khan and Saudi boxing financier Turki Alalshikh – has only held three fights, but it has already angered many of the old guard in the boxing promotion world. With Zuffa actively seeking to rewrite boxing’s rules and pushing for the controversial Muhammad Ali USA Boxing Revival Act, plus a signing spree that includes top lightweight contender Jai Opetaia, there’s no doubt White’s new organization means business in a historically divisive sport.
But Ben’s decision to leave his long-time home at Matchroom for a reportedly $15 million deal with Zuffa marks the most shocking blow to date in Whyte’s war against Hearn and other promotion rivals.
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Ben is one of the fighters most associated with Hearn’s brand, and it’s the fact that despite facing tremendous adversity, Hearn has guided the 29-year-old welterweight to superstardom in his native United Kingdom.
Hearn admitted to iFL TV on Friday evening that he was “very frustrated” in his first comments since the news was released. Hearn said he was informed of Benn’s decision via an email from the boxer’s lawyer, who was ultimately denied even a phone call despite them having worked together for nearly 10 years.
“I made a mistake because I misjudged [Benn’s] Character,” Hearn said.
“When I got the email from his attorney, I texted him and said, ‘I think we should have a phone call. I think for everything I’ve done for you, I think I should have a phone call.’ And he said, ‘No. “I was like, ‘Oh my God, I can’t believe it.'”
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White just scoffed when told of Hearn’s claims on Saturday night.
“What a piece of shit,” he said. “Yes, we do beat babies.”
“We will be judged at the end of the year on the job we did this year,” White added. “At the end of the year you will judge what we have achieved in boxing in a year.”
