Eddie Hearn Slams Dana White Over Shakur Stevenson's Shock Zuffa Boxing Exit

Pulse Sports Team 11:40 - 21 October 2026

Leading boxing promoter Eddie Hearn pulled no punches in his scathing critique of UFC CEO Dana White, following pound-for-pound star Shakur Stevenson's official departure from Zuffa Boxing without having fought a single bout for the promotion.

Stevenson was regarded as the marquee signing of White's nascent venture into the sweet science. Losing a fighter of such caliber before he even stepped into the ring under their banner marks a major blow to the company's credibility—one Hearn was quick to capitalize on.

"It's unbelievable. Honestly, I thought it was a PR stunt," Hearn told IFL TV. "Until Shakur's team called and texted me, I just assumed they were cooking up some big announcement. The whole situation was so embarrassing for Zuffa that it barely felt real. Within thirty seconds, I got fifty messages saying their project was falling apart."

The British promoter highlighted just how unprecedented the situation is in professional boxing:

"How do you sign your biggest star and then have them walk away without ever fighting for you? I don't think that's ever happened in the history of the sport. Dana White kept talking about the history they were going to make by the end of the year. Well, credit to them—they made history by signing an elite talent and failing to deliver a single fight."

Hearn and White have been locked in a war of words for much of 2026, ever since the UFC chief unveiled his boxing ambitions. According to Hearn, Zuffa Boxing's leadership lacks the fundamental knowledge required to navigate the complexities of the sport.

"They don't know what they're doing," Hearn added. "You can't hand your career and legacy over to people outside of boxing. Devin Haney was incredibly smart—he saw the writing on the wall and signed with DAZN. Now Shakur Stevenson will likely do the same. Credit to Shakur for having the guts to say, 'This place isn't for me, these guys have no clue what they're doing, and I need to get out before they ruin my career.'"

The setbacks continue to mount for Zuffa Boxing. Prior to Stevenson's exit, another high-profile signing—former Hearn charge Conor Benn—suffered a brutal knockout defeat at the hands of Ryan Garcia in September. On top of that, the promotion has failed to stage a single card on US soil in months.

Despite his criticisms, Hearn acknowledged that the promotion's deep pockets—backed by Turki Alalshikh and Saudi entertainment giant SELA—will keep them afloat despite the significant hit to their reputation.

"They'll push on, but their true colors have been revealed. They know nothing about building a boxing career. If you sign with Zuffa Boxing, you're essentially taking everything you've built and throwing it straight into the trash," Hearn concluded.

"That's just the reality. So if you want to chase a few extra quid and maybe fight once a year—or in Shakur Stevenson's case, not fight at all—fair enough. You take that gamble and live with the consequences."