Dana White Rips Rival Boxing Promoters for Lack of 'Pushback'

UFC CEO says entering boxing is 'like beating up babies' as established promoters fail to challenge Zuffa Boxing

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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UFC President Dana White has expressed surprise at the lack of pushback from rival boxing promoters since launching Zuffa Boxing. White said he expected more resistance from established promoters like Eddie Hearn and Oscar De La Hoya, but instead feels he is "beating up babies" in the boxing world. White vowed to continue disrupting the sport and changing the status quo, despite criticism from promoters about Zuffa's newly unveiled championship belt.

Why it matters

Dana White's entry into the boxing world with Zuffa Boxing represents a major shift in the combat sports landscape, as the UFC's dominant leader looks to take on the traditional boxing establishment. White's brash comments and lack of resistance from rival promoters suggest he believes Zuffa Boxing can quickly make inroads and challenge the current power brokers in boxing.

The details

At Zuffa Boxing's third event, the main event between heavyweights Efe Ajagba and Charles Martin delivered a card filled with stoppages. However, White was more surprised by the lack of pushback from established boxing promoters like Eddie Hearn and Oscar De La Hoya. White said he expected more resistance, but feels he is "beating up babies" in the boxing world, as the rival promoters are "absolutely, positively out of their league." White vowed to continue disrupting boxing in 2026, telling critics to "judge me at the end of 2026" as he looks to change the sport.

  • Zuffa Boxing held its third event this past weekend (February 17, 2026).
  • Zuffa Boxing 4 is scheduled for Sunday, March 4, 2026.

The players

Dana White

The president and CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), who has launched a new boxing promotion called Zuffa Boxing.

Eddie Hearn

The chairman of Matchroom Sport, a major boxing promotion company.

Oscar De La Hoya

A former professional boxer and the founder of Golden Boy Promotions, another major boxing promotion company.

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What they’re saying

“There hasn't been any pushback. This is like beating up babies. I feel like I came in and I'm beating up babies. I expected more. I expected some pushback. I expected them to be more game. They're all way out of their league. Like absolutely, positively out of their league. I'm actually a little shocked.”

— Dana White, UFC CEO (Yahoo Sports)

“I saw Eddie Hearn saying the belt is cringey and all this stuff. I don't think anybody looks at Eddie Hearn and says, 'oh this guy's a visionary.' The guy's been in boxing forever. I look at him like most politicians. You've done nothing in the sport except stay in the lane and play by all the rules — you ended up becoming part of the problem, is what happened.”

— Dana White, UFC CEO (Yahoo Sports)

“They don't stop talking, the WBC and Eddie Hearn and all this shit that Oscar De La Hoya talks. We all know De La Hoya is f—king mentally ill. The guy's talking all this shit and his place is in foreclosure; he's suing his fighter to try to stay with him. Has he done a Clapback Thursday recently? I would f—king love to see an episode of Clapback Thursday this Thursday from Oscar De La Hoya.”

— Dana White, UFC CEO (Yahoo Sports)

What’s next

Zuffa Boxing 4 is scheduled for Sunday, March 4, 2026, and more verbal counterpunches from Dana White and rival boxing promoters are likely to come before the event.

The takeaway

Dana White's brash entry into the boxing world with Zuffa Boxing has caught the established boxing promoters off guard, as they have failed to mount any significant pushback against White's disruptive approach. This suggests White believes Zuffa Boxing can quickly challenge the current power dynamics in the sport of boxing.