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Eddie Hearn Dismisses Claims That Boxing Is Broken Amid UFC-Backed League Plans

Posted : 11 March 2025

Eddie Hearn has pushed back against UFC president Dana White’s assertion that boxing is in disrepair, following White’s partnership with Saudi investors to create a new boxing league. While the details of this league remain unclear, White has made varying statements about its focus, sometimes suggesting it will introduce its own world titles and at other times indicating it will develop young talent.

 

Hearn, one of boxing's most influential promoters, disagrees with White’s claim that the sport needs rebuilding, insisting that boxing is in a strong position and that the new venture only reinforces its appeal.

 

The new league will be operated under the TKO banner, which also owns the UFC and WWE, and will involve Turki Alalshikh, a key figure behind Saudi Arabia’s recent investment in boxing. There are expectations that TKO could take control of major Saudi-backed boxing events, including a potential blockbuster fight between Saul "Canelo" Alvarez and Terence Crawford in September.

 

 However, the move raises questions about how the league will function within boxing’s regulatory framework, as MMA in the U.S. is not subject to the Ali Act, which protects fighters from long-term exclusive contracts. Hearn remains skeptical about whether the UFC's centralized business model can be replicated in boxing, given the different financial dynamics between the two sports.

 

One of the most contentious aspects of White’s proposed league is the potential challenge it poses to boxing’s traditional world titles, governed by the WBA, WBO, IBF, and WBC. Some have speculated that the new league might aim to establish its own championship belt, bypassing the established sanctioning bodies.

 

While Hearn does not believe his relationship with Saudi backers will be affected, he doubts that the existing world titles will lose their significance anytime soon. Meanwhile, critics argue that Saudi Arabia's increasing investment in boxing is part of a broader strategy to reshape its global image, with the country having spent an estimated £5bn on sports since 2021 amid accusations of "sportswashing."

 

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