Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn enjoys ‘war’ with Dana White: “I don’t really want peace”

Eddie Hearn doesn’t exactly wish to mend fences with Dana White.

There was a time when Matchroom’s Hearn was chummy with the UFC CEO. The two often exchanged pleasantries when speaking to the media. All bets were off when White and TKO made a serious push in the boxing industry. White formed Zuffa Boxing and Hearn took issue with the promotion lobbying to change the Muhammad Ali Act.

Hearn and White have since hurled several digs at one another. White has claimed Hearn took credit for the success of Matchroom off his father’s work. Hearn has fired back, reminding White that he wouldn’t be where he is today without the Fertitta brothers.

During a media scrum filmed by Seconds Out, Hearn admitted that he’s having some fun with his current public rivalry with White (h/t MMAJunkie).

“I’ve got to be honest: this war that I’m in with Dana White, I find so enjoyable, and I missed it when I made friends with Frank Warren, right? Because for 15 years, I battled with Warren. You see what’s going on now with me and Dana for six months? I did that for 15 years with Frank Warren, and let me tell you something now: Dana White can’t lace Frank Warren’s boots when it comes to having a war in boxing, because Frank knows every move. He knows every fighter. He knows every stroke that can be pulled. So, I’m really enjoying it.”

Amid ongoing health issues, Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, is hoping to bring Hearn and White together to smooth things over. It’s not something that Hearn necessarily hopes to do.

“If you ask me, I don’t really want peace. I want war – but in a good way,” Hearn said.

Zuffa Boxing has utilized its deep pockets to sign some notable names. In perhaps the promotion’s most shrewd move yet, Conor Benn was signed after working with Hearn for a decade. Zuffa Boxing also made an offer to Johnny Fisher, who has worked with Matchroom in the past.

Do you think there is any end in sight to the beef between Eddie Hearn and Dana White? Drop a comment below.