Eddie Hearn Warns of Boxing Split Over Zuffa

Eddie Hearn, the prominent Matchroom Boxing promoter, sharply criticized Dana White's Zuffa Boxing venture on Saturday night in Las Vegas, following Jarrell Miller's victory over Lenier Pero, and warned that the sport faces a potential split between traditional sanctioning bodies and White's emerging model.

Speaking to reporters after the heavyweight bout at the UFC Apex, Hearn questioned Zuffa Boxing's direction after just five events, all held at the same Las Vegas venue. "All we've seen is five shows with a load of randoms on it," Hearn told Fight Hub TV in a separate interview. "Where's the league? You're stuck in the Apex still." He accused Zuffa of lacking a coherent structure while still relying on the prestige of established world titles from bodies like the WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO.

Hearn argued that fighters signing with Zuffa should forfeit eligibility for recognized championships. "You can't have it both ways," he said. "If you sign with Zuffa, you can't win a world championship." He predicted a "big split now in boxing," with one path offering belts, rankings, and historical legacy, and the other providing centralized promotion and larger guarantees through TKO, UFC's...