The beef between Dana White and Eddie Hearn has become an inextricable part of the long-awaited Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua fight much to the chagrin of some fans.
While seeing White and Hearn publicly butt heads has provided some degree of amusement, it’s also arguably been a distraction from the Fury vs. Joshua hype, especially with White’s involvement muddying the waters. Regardless, the Dec. 11 bout is still on schedule.
Still, it wasn’t long ago the Matchroom Boxing boss suggested he and White settle things in the ring, an idea that UFC star Paddy Pimblett finds ridiculous.
“I think he would, personally, yeah,” Pimblett told All Out Fighting when asked if Hearn would beat White in a fight. “I think he would, but people say all this and that, but they’re never going to fight, so it’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard in my life. As if Dana White’s going to have a fight with Eddie Hearn. It’s like the daftest thing I’ve ever heard.”
Pimblett isn’t just fed up with the hypothetical fight talk. Even the verbal exchanges between White and Hearn have worn thin with him, with White insisting he is playing a major role in the Fury vs. Joshua promotion, and Hearn arguing White will mostly be on the sidelines come Dec. 11.
Unfortunately, that chatter likely isn’t going anywhere for the next two months.
“It’s just stupid,” Pimblett said. “It’s just very childish, isn’t it? But they’re going to keep going back and forth, so we need to get used to it.”
As for the fight itself, Pimblett leans towards Joshua to win the grudge match, with Fury’s wishy-washy behavior a concern. Fury has retired twice in the past five years alone and has produced uneven results in recent wins over Mariusz Wach and Arslanbek Makhmudov.
“If you would have asked me a few years ago, 10 years ago, I think I would have said Tyson Fury,” Pimblett said. “But now, I think Anthony Joshua beats him. I think Fury hasn’t looked great in last couple where he’s took, like, five years out. You can’t just take five years out in a fighting sport and think you’re going to come back just as good. So, personally, now I think Anthony Joshua beats him.”
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FINAL THOUGHTS
I agree with Paddy Pimblett that the idea of Dana and Eddie fighting is very silly. But just so we’re clear, Dana is the person who first pitched it and when Eddie said he was down, then Dana called it dumb. Yes, it is dumb. They are middle-aged men who were never athletes.
But also, you’re a fool if you think that isn’t one of the biggest fights that could be made right now. People would line up to see that sideshow. — Jed
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