Eddie Hearn has never been one to mince words, especially when it comes to the evolving landscape of combat sports. His latest target? Dana White's new venture into boxing under the Zuffa banner. When White announced that Jai Opetaia would face Brandon Glanton for the inaugural Zuffa Boxing World Cruiserweight Championship, it was meant to mark a historic moment. Instead, it became fodder for one of boxing's most prominent promoters.

In a candid conversation with iFL TV, Hearn didn't hold back. "That is the cringiest shit I've ever seen," he declared, his tone dripping with incredulity. The idea of a promotional world title struck him as not just unnecessary but almost laughable. He went so far as to joke that he might create his own belt just to highlight the absurdity of it all. "Do you know what? I could just do that," he mused. "That would be quite amusing. Why don't we do an iFL one as well?"

Hearn's reaction is rooted in decades of experience. His father, Barry, founded Matchroom Boxing in 1982, and since then, the promotion has become a powerhouse in the sport. With fighters like Anthony Joshua, Dmitry Bivol, Jesse Rodriguez, Shakur Stevenson, and Katie Taylor under its banner, Matchroom has claimed titles across multiple organizations. For Hearn, the notion of introducing yet another championship feels like a step too far.

"Do you think I would disrespect boxing that much where I would say, we are going to bring out the 'Matchroom Boxing World championship?'" he asked rhetorically. "My ego's out of control, that would have to be—That's beyond anything I could ever fathom or ever bring myself to do."

Despite his criticism, Hearn has generally tried to remain respectful of White's ambitions in boxing. The two have exchanged barbs during interviews, with White recently labeling Hearn as "very confrontational." But Hearn's core argument remains unchanged: a promotional belt, no matter how well-intentioned, lacks the gravitas of the sport's established championships.

"I'm telling you, we don't deserve to have a world championship," he insisted. "The history and legacy of the sport governs that." He acknowledged that White's vision might resonate with younger generations in the future, but for now, it feels disconnected from the essence of boxing.

To illustrate his point, Hearn painted a vivid picture. "Listen, I get what Zuffa are doing because maybe in five or 10 years time, maybe the Zuffa World Championship is something that you younger generations want to win, but it just ain't for me. It's not boxing. So I don't want to just create my own belt and go into amateur gyms and go, 'Mate, you know what you want to when you grow up, don't ya? The Matchroom Boxing World Championship.'"

He continued, mimicking the imagined conversation: "'Oh do I? Do I, Eddie? Yeah, What's that?' 'It's my new world championship belt. This is going to be the biggest thing in boxing. If you're going to be a real champ, you've got to win the MBWC—that's the Matchroom Boxing World Championship.' 'Oh, wow!'" Hearn's delivery was dripping with sarcasm. "No, no, you haven't. You've got to win the WBC. You've got to win the WBA. You know the belt that Muhammad Ali won? Do you know the belt that 'Sugar' Ray Leonard won? The belt that Mike Tyson won? Roberto Duran? Larry Holmes? Pernell Whittaker? Shakur Stevenson? Floyd Mayweather? You know what I mean?"

Hearn's words carry weight because they're steeped in history. The WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO belts are more than just titles; they're symbols of a legacy that spans generations. For Hearn, introducing a promotional championship risks diluting that legacy. It's not about ego or competition—it's about preserving the integrity of a sport he's dedicated his life to.

As Zuffa Boxing continues to make waves, the debate over the value of promotional titles is unlikely to fade. For now, Hearn remains steadfast in his belief that true greatness in boxing is measured by the belts that have defined the sport for decades. Whether White's vision will stand the test of time remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the conversation has only just begun.