Eddie Hearn has faced plenty of rivals over the years, but he’s under no illusions about the scale of the latest threat. With Dana White fronting Zuffa Boxing, the Matchroom boss is preparing for what he calls his toughest challenge yet.
‘Dana White is a serious rival,’ Hearn says. The UFC president’s move into boxing brings serious financial backing and global reach – something Hearn knows can’t be ignored. But while he respects the competition, he’s clear on where he believes the difference lies. ‘He is a great promoter and TKO is a very powerful business, but he just doesn’t have my magic when it comes to boxing.’
For Hearn, that ‘magic’ is built on years spent immersed in the sport. ‘I love it and live and breathe it every single day and the passion I have is on another level,’ he adds. It’s that obsession, he believes, that gives him an edge – even as new players attempt to disrupt the landscape.
Train like Eddie: Hearn’s PT, Kai Peacock, has created a plan exclusively for members of MH SQUAD. Existing members can access the training plan in full via the MH app.
The timing only adds fuel to the fire. Boxing is already shifting, with new investment, new platforms and new audiences changing the rules. Hearn has spent much of his career battling established figures, but the arrival of Zuffa represents a different kind of opponent – one with the infrastructure to scale quickly.
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Still, he’s not shying away from the fight. ‘I’m looking forward to the challenge,’ he says.
In other words, this isn’t a threat to Hearn – it’s motivation.
Read our full interview with Eddie Hearn at this link. You can subscribe to Men's Health by clicking here.
Isaac Williams is Site Editor for both Women’s Health UK and Men’s Health UK, guiding and supporting the content teams to create content across all platforms. Isaac’s love of health and fitness began at Loughborough University, where he graduated with a History and English degree in 2014. His first job was at Men’s Running magazine, where he progressed from Staff Writer to Editor. Among his highlights of those four years include completing a 24-hour track race (never again), just about finishing a multi-day ultramarathon in the Azores, and chugging his way around a ‘beer mile’. Isaac ventured into the world of freelance journalism in 2018, interviewing some of the biggest names in sport – like Anthony Joshua and Ben Stokes – and writing features for the likes of The Guardian, Red Bull, ShortList and BBC Countryfile. He was also a regular contributor to an adventure series called ‘The Man Who’: speaking to some of the world’s most extreme explorers from the wilds of Caffè Nero. In late-2019, Isaac became Editor of Men’s Fitness UK. In his five years there, Isaac was responsible for editing the monthly magazine and managing website content, ultimately helping the brand transition to a ‘digital-first’ approach. He joined Hearst UK as Multiplatform Editor in December 2024, where he manages day-to-day digital output, edits content and writes articles on all things health and fitness. When he’s not hammering at his keyboard, Isaac enjoys exercise and trying – unsuccessfully, so far – to teach his baby son to kick a football. You can follow Isaac on Instagram @isaacw1993.
