Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn shares his thoughts on the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s decision not to cancel its upcoming mixed martial arts show.
While most sports leagues in the United States have suspended their current seasons, the MMA promotion will continue to stage the UFC 249 pay-per-event on April 18, which is reportedly set to take place in a private island in California.
The decision drew flak from sports fans as the UFC puts the fighters’ health at risk while the world battles the deadly coronavirus.
“The fighters want to fight. The fans want to see it. I’ve had nothing but positive feedback from the fans and the fighters. These guys all want to continue. We will,” the UFC president said.
On Monday, White announced the new line-up for the re-tooled card, with an interim lightweight title bout between Tony Ferguson and Justin Gaethje serving as the event’s headliner.
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Stubborn
Following the announcement, Eddie Hearn said he would have cancelled the event if he were on White’s shoes considering the severity of the COVID-19 outbreak.
“It’s unbelievable, I’d like to think that in boxing, there’s no one more roll your sleeves up and get on with it than me,” the boxing promoter told Express Sport.
“But even I wouldn’t consider staging an event right now. I’m not even thinking about options, not even on the radar.”
“This is stubbornness. These are many of the things that make him successful but at some point you have to sit back and say ‘white flag.’”
“I’m quite surprised ESPN are going ahead with this, obviously they want ratings and money. But with Sky Sports and DAZN, I would not be allowed to stage events right now. It’s bad taste to be quite honest.”
“He wants to be a trailblazer, people have told him he can’t do it.”
“But I know the feeling of being told something and you do it anyway. Half of me admires him for cracking on but the other half says ‘come on don’t be mad.’”
Best Attention
Amid the criticisms, White assures the fighters’s health and safety will be the promotion’s top priority.
“We will make sure we take care of everybody like we always do. I’m not giving the public and the media all kinds of information on what I’m doing, but I’m not acting like some crazy rebel out here with the coronavirus,” White said.
“I’ve done everything I’ve been told to do.”
“When my fighters and my people are with me, they’re getting the best medical attention they could possibly get if they’re alone or if they’re home or if they work for somebody else.”
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(Featured Image Source: Instagram/ UFC and Eddie Hearn)