{"id":368767,"date":"2026-07-19T16:33:52","date_gmt":"2026-07-19T11:03:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=368767"},"modified":"2026-07-19T16:33:52","modified_gmt":"2026-07-19T11:03:52","slug":"eddie-hearn-claims-zuffa-was-bullied-into-co-promotion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/07\/19\/eddie-hearn-claims-zuffa-was-bullied-into-co-promotion\/","title":{"rendered":"Eddie Hearn Claims Zuffa Was ‘Bullied’ Into Co-Promotion"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n

Eddie Hearn believes Zuffa Boxing has already discovered that boxing doesn\u2019t operate just like the UFC.<\/p>\n

Hearn argued that Dana White and Zuffa were forced to desert several of the positions they promoted when entering the game, pointing to the upcoming Ryan Garcia-Conor Benn event as proof that boxing\u2019s business model can’t be controlled by a single company.<\/p>\n

\n
<\/p>\n
\n<\/source><\/p>\n<\/picture>\n


\n \"Follow
\n <\/a> <\/div>\n

\n

\u201cI mean, he was bullied into it really. They’d no alternative,\u201d Hearn said to Fighthype when asked about Zuffa working with Oscar De La Hoya and Golden Boy Promotions. \u201cDo you think that Dana White would have voluntarily said, \u2018Let\u2019s do a co-promotion with Oscar De La Hoya?\u2019 I mean he can\u2019t stand him.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Hearn said that Zuffa entered boxing promising to avoid co-promotions and world title sanctioning bodies, but says reality quickly forced a special approach.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cBut that is how boxing works. Sometimes you don\u2019t get like in a super world probably we wouldn\u2019t do co-promotions with anybody since you\u2019d reasonably just do it on your individual. But boxing doesn\u2019t work like that. It\u2019s never worked like that,\u201d Hearn said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

He also pointed to the WBC\u2019s involvement in Garcia\u2019s September 12 welterweight title defense against Benn, saying Zuffa underestimated the importance of established organizations.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThey said they\u2019re not doing any world championship fights. The truth is, Nick Khan stood on the stand to try to abolish the Muhammad Ali Act and belittle Mauricio Sulaiman,\u201d Hearn said. \u201cWell, guess what? On September the twelfth, Mauricio Sulaiman will likely be within the ring on their show, they usually\u2019ll all should pay homage to the WBC championship because you’ll be able to\u2019t just eliminate these items.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Hearn closed by arguing that the Garcia-Benn promotion illustrates the basic difference between boxing and mixed martial arts.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cNobody\u2019s going to put down,\u201d Hearn said. \u201cOscar De La Hoya was going to let Ryan Garcia just poodle on over to do a Zuffa show? No likelihood. They\u2019re control freaks, and you’ll be able to\u2019t control boxing.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\n
\"Youtube<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t<\/center><\/div>\n

Click here to subscribe to our FREE newsletter<\/a><\/p>\n

Related Boxing News:<\/h2>\n