Eddie Hearn rejects Dana White’s claim that boxing is ‘broken’ as Saudi-backed league plans emerge

Eddie Hearn has hit back at Dana White’s claims that boxing is “broken” as the UFC president prepares to launch a Saudi-backed boxing league under the TKO banner. While details remain scarce, White has suggested his league could introduce its own world titles and reshape the sport’s structure—an idea Hearn strongly disputes.

Speaking on the 5 Live Boxing with Steve Bunce podcast, Hearn dismissed the notion that boxing is in crisis.

“One thing I disagree with is boxing’s not broken. Boxing is in a great place, it always has been. There are always ways we can improve it, but the fact those guys want to come into boxing shows where it’s at.”

White’s league will be backed by Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority. Alalshikh has played a key role in bringing some of boxing’s biggest fights to Saudi Arabia in recent years, and the new venture will likely see TKO take over the promotion of major events—including a potential mega-fight between Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Terence Crawford in September.

This development raises concerns about how the sport’s traditional structure will be affected. White’s UFC operates under a league model, where fighters sign exclusive contracts and compete for in-house titles. Boxing, in contrast, is built around independent promotions and the four major sanctioning bodies—WBA, WBO, IBF, and WBC.

Hearn remains sceptical about whether White’s UFC-style structure can translate to boxing, particularly given the sport’s unique financial landscape.

“Dana has a great spot [in MMA] where you can control the fighter, the commercial, everything. You have to do what you’re told,” he said. “That’s not really going to work in boxing. Fighters are drastically overpaid in boxing and the margins in MMA are different, so it’s going to be interesting.”

This comment highlights the significant financial differences between the two sports. UFC fighters have long been vocal about lower pay compared to elite boxers, and a league system in boxing may struggle to gain traction if top fighters resist giving up their autonomy.

One of the most controversial aspects of White’s proposed league is the suggestion that it could eventually push out traditional world titles and create its own championship belts.

Hearn, however, remains doubtful that the WBA, WBO, IBF, and WBC titles will be displaced anytime soon.

“Dana’s comments saying any belt with three letters before it doesn’t matter—I disagree. If you really believe a fighter doesn’t put huge value on a WBC championship, you’re mistaken. But sport can change.”

While new promotions and governing bodies have emerged in the past, boxing’s existing titles still hold immense prestige. Many fighters see winning a WBC or IBF belt as a career-defining achievement, making it unlikely they would abandon them for a newly created championship.

Saudi Arabia has invested an estimated £5bn in sports since 2021, securing major boxing, football, and golf events. While the country claims this is part of a broader strategy to diversify its economy, critics argue it’s a form of ‘sportswashing’—an attempt to deflect attention from human rights controversies.

Despite this, Hearn says he does not expect his business relationship with Saudi investors to change. Whether White’s new league succeeds or fades away remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the battle for boxing’s future is heating up.