UFC honcho, Dana White, recently announced his plans to enter the boxing realm with his promotional Zuffa Boxing. White’s entry is also potentially set to bring noticeable changes to the sport, especially to the Ali Act. This decision did not sit well with Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn, who believes that his promotional rival might have sinister motives.
Talking on the Ariel Helwani Show, Hearn shed light on why White’s decision to modify the Ali Act might just come back to bite him.
“The problem with the Ali Act for them is, you have to disclose to the fighters the revenue of the show, particularly from the broadcaster. I think there is many different facets, but that is a major problem because they will be receiving a significant rights deal from Paramount,” said Hearn. “When you’re making millions in a rights deal and the talent is getting such a small percentage, that’s going to cause a problem.”
The Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act, or simply the Ali Act, is a U.S. federal law that was enacted on May 26, 2000. It aims to protect professional boxers from exploitation and enhance the integrity of the sport. This act was an answer to the then-widespread abuses in boxing, including unfair contracts, rigged rankings, and conflicts of interest among promoters and sanctioning organizations.
While White has urged that there will be “zero changes” to the act, stating that he only wishes to add to it. Hearn believes that this is merely a ploy to hide the financial outcomes from fighters.
“Imagine if the UFC fighters could see in black and white on fight week the revenue that the UFC were making from the show. You’d turn around and go, ‘I’m getting how much?’ You’re going to have a situation where a boxer is making three or four times more than the main event on the UFC card, and the revenue is more for the UFC card than it is for the boxing,” he said. “They can’t afford for the talent to see the numbers. That’s the truth of the situation.”
“He Can’t Lace My Boots”
Meanwhile, Hearn isn’t particularly fond of how White promoted the Terence Crawford vs Canelo Alvarez fight. Talking during the same interview, he was confident that White does not hold a candle to his promotional prowess.
“In my opinion, I’m gonna spank [White] in boxing. In my opinion, he can’t lace my boots in boxing. But maybe I’m deluded! And maybe I’m so arrogant and egotistical that I’m gonna get it wrong. But that’s what I truly believe,” he said. “When I see him at the press conference. When he’s talking about the undercard of Crawford against Canelo, and he’s reading off a bit of paper, it’s just not the same.”
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