Sleep with One Eye Open: Eddie Hearn Issues Stark Warning to Dana White Over Boxing Ambitions
One of boxing’s most influential promoters, Eddie Hearn has told Dana White to “Sleep with one eye open” as he ventures into the world of professional boxing with his new promotion, TKO Boxing. Hearn’s words are a harsh warning.
Eddie Hearn Warns Dana White
This stark advice is due to the intense competition in the boxing industry. Dana White will face a sport notorious for its cutthroat business practices and guarded traditions. He will have to contend not only with established promoters like Hearn but also with the complex web of fighters, managers, and governing bodies that define the sport. Whether White can successfully adapt his UFC model to boxing remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: he has been put on notice.
“Boxing is the worst business in the world. Hope these guys have got the appetite to be up all night and sleep with one eye open. Because you’re not going to get control where you can go to bed at 10 o’clock and wake up at 8 o’clock and expect the industry and your situation to be exactly the same.”
Eddie Hearn has a long-standing relationship with Dana White, often exchanging compliments about each other’s influence in their respective sports. Despite this amicable rapport, Hearn has issued a stark warning to White regarding the challenges he will face in the boxing world. In an interview with iFL TV, Hearn described boxing as “the worst business in the world,” emphasizing that it requires constant vigilance. He humorously advised White to “sleep with one eye open.”
Dana White is no stranger to managing multiple ventures simultaneously. He has successfully built the UFC into a global powerhouse. However, White acknowledges that his workload has increased significantly with the addition of TKO Boxing.
The launch of TKO Boxing and White’s ambitious plans have sparked a mix of excitement and scepticism within the boxing community. While some see the potential for innovation and growth, others doubt whether White’s UFC model can be successfully applied to boxing. Whether TKO Boxing can “crush” the competition, as Turki Alalshikh claims, remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the boxing world is about to get a lot more interesting.
