Eddie Hearn on Zuffa Boxing: "I Think There Will Be a Riot from UFC Fighters"

Eddie Hearn, the head of Matchroom Boxing, has weighed in on the future of the premier boxing promotion Zuffa Boxing, run by Dana White. Zuffa is part of TKO Group Holdings, which also manages the world's largest MMA promotion, the UFC.

Hearn believes that while the entry of TKO into boxing is positive for the sport, it may cause significant friction regarding fighter pay within their MMA division.

“I think, and I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. I think Dana White, TKO, Nick Khan, all these people in boxing — it’s great for boxing. These are very experienced, very powerful people, and they saw an opportunity.

I think one of the really interesting points when I look at this business is going to be how the UFC roster reacts to the amount of money these guys are paying the boxers.

Honestly, I think there will be a riot from the UFC fighters because, in my opinion, they will be thinking: ‘Why are we making so much less than the boxers when the show, the business, and the revenue are so much higher?’ So, yeah, that’s going to be interesting,” Hearn stated.

Previously, Dana White declared that his goal is to ensure that sanctioning bodies such as the WBC, WBA, WBO, and IBF do not hold the same influence they do now. Zuffa plans to establish its own rankings and award its own championship belt.