Hearn on White: “Canelo vs Crawford Wasn’t His Achievement, It Was Turki’s”

Matchroom Boxing head Eddie Hearn shared his view on UFC and TKO Boxing boss Dana White’s statement that he played a role in two of the biggest fights in boxing history – Crawford vs Canelo and Mayweather vs McGregor.

– When you hear White say, “I was part of two of the three biggest fights.” When he talks about coming into boxing to change the game – you take that personally, don’t you?

– No, because he has to think that way. He’s a winner, you know? He can’t come in and say: “Oh, I’m not sure if we’ll succeed in boxing,” or “Well, we’ll just try.” He’ll do exactly what I said.

Look at me when I signed my contract with DAZN – I came into the game like a bullet. Sometimes, looking back, I think maybe I did some things wrong. But that’s the only way I know. We came to dominate. We came to take over. We came to push everyone else out. And it took us five years to be in a dominant position in America. Now we’re the promotional company with the biggest budget in US boxing.

There are all these major boxing promoters with dozens of world champions and top fighters on their rosters, but without a broadcaster. They’re screwed, while we’re in a fantastic position.

You know, when he [White] says he’s delivered two of the biggest fights in history… If you really want to come into boxing and call Mayweather vs McGregor one of the greatest fights ever – fine. But that was a show, an exhibition, not a real fight.

And by the way, the Crawford vs Canelo fight – that wasn’t Dana White’s fight. That was Turki Alalshikh’s fight. He was simply invited as a promoter. Good job. Fine. He probably made some money. But let’s not twist the facts. It was Turki Alalshikh’s work in boxing that paved the way for Crawford vs Canelo. Without him, this fight never happens. In fact, it’s not even the kind of fight Dana White could have imagined organizing.

So good for Dana, good for TKO Boxing too. But all the credit for making Canelo vs Crawford happen goes to Turki Alalshikh – the man who actually paid for the fight. The man who had the vision to bring two generational legends together in the ring. Because even I didn’t believe this fight could be made. And he did it. Dana just came, sat in the front row, and showed up at the press conference. But if you’re going to claim credit for Mayweather vs McGregor and for a fight someone else actually funded – you’ve got a long way to go, said Hearn.

Photo: All Out Fighting