Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn jokingly said he is “totally finished” now that UFC president Dana White has partnered with Turki Alsheikh in the boxing industry.
White and Alsheikh officially announced their widely anticipated boxing collaboration, signaling a new venture in the sport.
This new boxing initiative will be led by the TKO Group, which already owns UFC and WWE, marking their expansion into professional boxing.
Turki Alsheikh has been instrumental in revitalizing boxing over the past two years by investing heavily to organize high-profile fights.
His involvement has even fostered collaboration between rival promoters like Hearn and Frank Warren.
However, with White and Alsheikh joining forces, some fans online suggest that established figures in boxing might soon become outdated.
When SunSport asked Hearn about this, he responded with a smile, “Totally finished! Yeah.”
He continued, “We had a business before Saudi Arabia, and we will continue to have one. We’ve enjoyed working with Riyadh Season and His Excellency; it has been very beneficial for us, the sport, and our fighters, and we anticipate this collaboration will continue.”
The details of TKO’s boxing league are still unclear, even to Hearn, about the specifics of these new entrants into the boxing scene.
He mentioned, “I’ve been aware of it for about six months, waiting for an announcement, but I don’t know much about its format.”
Hearn added, “I noticed some strong statements in the press release about unifying belts and such, but we’ll wait and see how it unfolds.”
TKO has announced plans to host “four major super-fights” in both 2025 and 2026, alongside developing emerging boxing talent.
Following recent collaborations with his competitors, Hearn indicated openness to working with White and TKO, stating:
“If it benefits us, our fighters, and if we are asked to participate, then yes, we would definitely consider it.”
He further commented, “I think it’s positive that Dana White is entering boxing. TKO is a strong company, and he is a capable promoter.”
Hearn concluded, “I believe this shows boxing’s current position. While there’s always room for improvement, I don’t think boxing is failing. It’s exciting to see what structure they will implement.”
Rumors suggest Canelo Alvarez, 34, and Terence Crawford, 37, are scheduled for a significant fight in Las Vegas in September, potentially promoted by TKO.
Additionally, following ESPN’s decision not to renew their contract with Bob Arum’s Top Rank, TKO might be partnering with the sports network.
Hearn noted, “The press release mentioned building stars and talent. Does this mean focusing on lesser-known fighters?”
He added, “It seems they have secured the ESPN deal from Top Rank, which is substantial.”
Hearn finished by saying, “This partnership with ESPN can indeed develop stars. They are intelligent individuals, and I’m confident they will develop a potentially effective structure.”
