Eddie Hearn had a measured reaction to the debut of Zuffa Boxing, making it clear he wasn’t overly impressed. Dana White’s long-anticipated first boxing event landed Friday night at the UFC Apex, where Callum Walsh outboxed Carlos Ocampo in a subdued main event, backed by a slick Paramount+ broadcast and a satisfied Las Vegas crowd.
Speaking to IFL TV, Hearn said he didn’t watch the show live because he doesn’t subscribe to Paramount, but that didn’t stop him from tracking the reaction closely. His main point centered on what he views as a double standard: if Matchroom had delivered the same card, Hearn believes the criticism would have been far harsher. While acknowledging Zuffa is “getting the ball rolling,” he suggested the promotion has been afforded patience others rarely receive.
Hearn also poked fun at what he sees as early inconsistencies in Zuffa’s messaging. The promotion had talked up a future free from traditional sanctioning bodies, yet still headlined with a recognized title fight. For Hearn, the surrounding politics were more compelling than the action itself, joking that the “soap opera” unfolding around Zuffa’s positioning was the most entertaining part of the launch.
Finally, Hearn shut down speculation that Zuffa could lure away Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, confirming Matchroom exercised its matching rights to retain the fighter.
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