Hearn on Zuffa Boxing: “You’re Creating a Mickey Mouse Belt”

Eddie Hearn, head of Matchroom Boxing, has criticized UFC and TKO Boxing Promotions president Dana White after he announced that Zuffa Boxing will only recognize two titles — the Zuffa belt and The Ring.

“For me, the Zuffa belt is a title that no fighter is interested in at all. I know this because we once thought about a Matchroom belt — and fighters weren’t interested. While boxers want to secure their financial future and legacy, they want to protect their own history. And legacy and history are built through the sanctioning bodies (WBA, WBC, WBO, IBF), the fights they stage, and the champions who came before them.

It’s just ridiculous, and it will never take off. I think I’m going to criticize the Zuffa belt — that’s it. I just don’t think it has any relevance in boxing. In fact, I think it devalues what you’re trying to do, because you’re creating a brand-new Mickey Mouse belt out of nowhere, one that has no history, legacy, or status in the sport.

Their argument is that ‘over time this belt will become like the WBC,’ but I don’t believe that,” Hearn said.