Eddie Hearn has no plans to cool down his ongoing rivalry with Dana White anytime soon.
While boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh recently encouraged leading figures in combat sports to work together, Hearn admitted he is still enjoying the public back-and-forth with the UFC CEO.
Hearn Praises Alalshikh but Enjoys the Rivalry
Alalshikh’s comments came after he revealed his battle with cancer and a brain tumor. In light of those health challenges, he expressed hope that influential promoters could put aside their differences.
Hearn made it clear with Seconds Out that he values his relationship with Alalshikh and appreciates everything he has done for boxing through Riyadh Season.
“I respect Turki so much for what he’s done for the sport, and he’s always been very good to me, us, our fighters.”
“He has never gone against his word to me since I’ve started work for him, which goes a long way.”
Even so, Hearn admitted that the friction with White has become one of the more entertaining parts of his current role in combat sports.
“I’ve got to be honest: this war that I’m in with Dana White, I find so enjoyable, and I missed it when I made friends with Frank Warren, right? Because for 15 years, I battled with Warren.”
How the White-Hearn Tensions Escalated
The relationship between the two promoters has become increasingly hostile since the launch of Zuffa Boxing.
In recent months, White and Hearn have exchanged criticism in interviews, debating everything from promotional ability to fighter compensation. At one point, discussions even surfaced about the possibility of settling their differences inside a boxing ring.
Business dealings have also added fuel to the rivalry. White recently brought longtime Matchroom boxer Conor Benn into the Zuffa Boxing fold. Around the same time, Hearn secured a representation agreement with UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall.
Another point of contention centers on the long-discussed heavyweight boxing clash between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury. Negotiations and promotional issues surrounding that fight have reportedly created additional disagreements between the two camps.
Also read:
Hearn Says He Wants the ‘Carnage’
Despite Alalshikh’s desire for peace, Hearn openly admitted he prefers the competitive tension.
“I don’t really want peace. I want war, but in a good way,”
“I’ve got nothing personal against Dana White. I’m just really enjoying it”
“I’m walking down the street, and someone’s coming out of a car, going, ‘Kick Dana’s ass!’”
Hearn also left the door open for future cooperation if Alalshikh believes it benefits everyone involved.
“But, I also respect Turki Alalshikh, and if he tells me, ‘Hey, we got this, we wanna try to do this.’ … then maybe we’ll switch it up a little bit.”
“But right now, a lot of this has got to do with the A.J. fight with Fury, because contractually, it’s a lot of things that can’t be done, that Turki might want to do. So we have to renegotiate the contract and go back..”
“I’ll always sit down with Turki and try and do business with him. But I like the carnage, and he does as well. Don’t just be fooled by the peace talk. He loves the carnage.”