Dana White launched a scathing attack on Eddie Hearn after signing one of his rival’s top fighters.
Hearn guided Conor Benn from his professional debut to two stadium showdowns against Chris Eubank Jr last year. The boxing world reacted in shock when Benn officially joined White’s Zuffa Boxing on Friday night in a deal reportedly worth eight figures.
The two promoters once shared a close friendship, but tensions have grown amid a public feud. Last night’s announcement intensified the conflict, marking the sharpest clash between them so far.
Dana White criticizes Hearn fiercely
At last week’s Zuffa Boxing press conference, White compared taking over boxing to ‘beating up babies’. He argued that signing Conor Benn so easily shows his dominance over the sport’s biggest promoter.
“I think you saw this week that I am really beating up babies,” White joked during the post-fight press conference in Houston. “Is there a bigger p—- than Eddie Hearn? This guy’s supposed to be your friend and you’re crying? He made more money, he will make more money, and he had the right to match it. He couldn’t match it.”
White dismissed claims that Benn avoided a one-to-one phone call with Hearn, calling it a “crock of s—” and repeating that Zuffa Boxing is “literally beating up babies.”
Hearn admits he felt betrayed
Hearn’s loyalty to Benn is clear. He supported Benn financially after the fighter failed a drug test, which led to the cancellation of the original Chris Eubank Jr fight in 2022.
He publicly defended Benn while challenging his team in the media. Speaking to IFL TV on Friday night, Hearn admitted he felt betrayed by Benn joining his biggest promotional rival.
“I felt that everything we gave him, the loyalty and support we offered, would be enough to talk it through,” Hearn said. “Or at least get close to a number. But it wasn’t the interest, so it was very surprising and painful.”
