One of boxing’s biggest promoters is not liking what he’s seeing from the new player in town.
Eddie Hearn, promoter of Matchroom Boxing, didn’t hold back any punches when asked about Dana White’s UFC and the effort by TKO, parent company of the UFC, to change federal law around “The Sweet Science.”
Hearn, who spoke to Fight Hub TV and other reporters after Jaron Ennis interim title win over Uisman Lima in Philadelphia on Saturday, honed in on TKO’s push to Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act for the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act, as well as UFC’s current structure around fighter pay.
“We’re not interested. We’re real boxing,” Hearn said when asked if when he was going to work with White. “I’m serious. We don’t want to change the ring. We don’t want to change the Muhammad Ali Act. This is how we work. We’re an open book with boots and everyone, and the team. I don’t want to hide the revenue from the show. These guys get to see it.”
TKO has been lobbying to introduce the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act, which would make way for the company to introduce its own championship belts into the sport, along with the current titles of the main sanctioning bodies in change of overseeing boxing (WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO). There are several other aspects that would come with the potential change, and Hearn isn’t feeling them.
“In boxing, the majority of the revenue from the show goes to the fighters,” Hearn said. “In MMA, the majority of the revenue goes to the promoter. Good luck to them. That’s not how we work in boxing. I’m not interested in (another) fight belt. I’m not interested in changing the Muhammad Ali Act. I’m not interested in changing the shape of the ring or the rules.
“What I’m interested in is the greatness of the sport of boxing.”
