Paddy
Pimblett won’t go against
UFC CEO Dana White.
While Dana White is an MMA promoter and Eddie Hearn is a boxing
promoter, they have been longtime rivals. The rivalry has recently
intensified with White’s entry into pugilism with Zuffa Boxing.
Hearn has since been going back and forth with White about a
potential fight.
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With White repeatedly underplaying the idea, Pimblett doesn’t think
that fight will ever materialize. However, if it does, Pimblett is
backing his boss White to starch Hearn, even though he admits that
the Matchroom Boxing chairman has a reach advantage. Pimblett
further notes that White and Hearn stand to earn more than the
fighters promoted by them if they ever fight. However, “The Baddy”
sees the entire saga as a “teenage girlish” spat which both parties
will eventually get over.
A Lucrative Matchup
“It’s not gonna happen,” Pimblett told iFL TV. “Dana’s not gonna box Eddie. It’s a bit
of a mad situation. Eddie’s got the reach on him. But Dana’s my
boss; I’m backing Dana. Dana’s gonna spark him out… The funniest
thing about it all is – if they fight each other, they’d get paid
well more than what the fighters are getting paid. $30 million
each. No boxer’s getting that under Eddie, no UFC fighter is
getting that under Dana… Without being disrespectful to either of
them, it’s very teenage girlish. But they will get over
it.”
Hearn has been slamming White for UFC fighter pay after the latter
signed Conor Benn to Zuffa Boxing for $15 million. Things have
further escalated after UFC heavyweight champion Tom
Aspinall appointed Hearn as his manager as his relationship
with White appears to be strained.