And it all started once White and Co. got into the boxing business.
In Hearn’s assessment, White is slapping the sport of boxing by trying to loophole his way around the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act.
“Leigh Wood against Josh Warrington for the Super Featherweight Matchroom Boxing championship of the world,” said Hearn in an interview with IFL TV, before bursting out in laughter. “No, I am joking. That is the cringiest shit I have ever seen. You know I would never do that. But I was just laughing because this Jai Opetaia vs. Brandon Glanton is for the Zuffa championship of the world.
“I can just do that. That would be quite amusing, anyone can do it. ‘You know what you’re going to win when you grow up? The Matchroom Boxing championship,’” he said mockingly. ‘“Oh, really Eddie, what’s that,’” he said while playing the voice of an imaginary up-and-coming boxer.
“‘Oh, it’s my new championship belt. This is going to be the biggest thing in boxing. If you are going to be a real champ you have to win the MBWC belt, the Matchroom Boxing World Championship,’” he added before getting back to serious mode.
“Do you think I would disrespect boxing that much. My ego is out of control but that is beyond anything I could ever fathom. The history and legacy of the sport governs that. You have to win the WBC, the WBA, you know, the belts that the Muhammad Ali won, Sugar Ray Leonard, Mike Tyson won, Roberto Duran, Larry Holmes, Shakur Stevenson, Floyd Mayweather.”
White has already booked the first-ever Zuffa Cruiserweight title fight between Jai Opetaia and Brandon Glanton, which is set to go down on March, 8, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. White’s strategy is to use The Ring’s rankings as a guide for contenders, while Zuffa title holders will be independent of traditional sanctioning bodies such as the WBC, WBA and IBF. In short, he is using the Zuffa title as a springboard for the champion to face The Ring title holders, and signing a world champion like Opetaia helps his cause.
As it stands, Opetaia is the The Ring Cruiserweight champion and his belt will be on the line when he faces Glanton. No word if his IBF strap will be up for grabs, as well.
