Eddie Hearn is throwing down the gauntlet with Dana White once again.
The Matchroom boxing boss and the UFC CEO have frequently butted heads over the past few months, with White touting his newfound Zuffa Boxing promotion as an industry game-changer and Hearn dismissing the impact of White’s latest combat sports project. Tensions escalated to the point that Hearn and White even discussed fighting one another, though White has since backed off from that talk much to Hearn’s disappointment.
However, the boardroom battle continues, and Hearn’s latest shot has him challenging White to release UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, who signed a management contract with Hearn’s Matchroom Talent Agency. If White truly wants what’s best for Aspinall, then Hearn tells him to let the fighter get paid what he deserves.
“One thing that’s actually stuck out with me from his comments is when Conor Benn signed with Zuffa, he said, ‘Eddie should want fighters do earn as much as possible,’” Hearn told iFL TV. “Right? Do you remember that? ‘He should be happy for Conor Benn, that he’s making more money. So I’ve been thinking about that line, and I think that I’ve got an idea. I would like Dana White to release Tom Aspinall from his UFC contract, and I will guarantee Dana White, in writing, that I will pay Tom Aspinall a minimum – probably five times more – but a minimum of three times more what Dana White is paying him. And I think for a hardworking, working class man that deserves every penny he can get because of what he puts his body through, and we’ve seen that recently, that Dana White should be happy for Tom Aspinall to receive that deal. So I would like to propose that.
“I would like to propose that Dana White should be happy for Tom Aspinall, who is extremely unhappy, and he should release him of his obligations with the UFC and allow him to go out and make considerably more for himself and his family because that’s what Dana White’s all about, isn’t it? He’d be happy for Tom. So that’s what I would like.”
Aspinall and boxer Conor Benn are integral parts of the Hearn-White feud, with Aspinall looking to maximize his earning potential after being promoted to undisputed champion in 2025, and Benn signing a reported $15 million deal with White for a single Zuffa boxing bout.
Currently, Aspinall is sidelined as he deals with eye injuries suffered in his fight with Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 this past October. Prior to that contest, Aspinall also dealt with inactivity as he lobbied for a fight with Jon Jones that never materialized. Hearn sees all of this as a mishandling of Aspinall’s career.
“The situation with Tom is, and he is under contract with the UFC, but unfortunately for him he has signed a contract which is one of the worst, most grossly underpaid athletes I have ever seen in the commercial world of sports,” Hearn said. “So I think it’s only fair because Dana likes to see fighters get their opportunity and make as much money as possible, like he said, that he should actually allow Tom to do so, because it’s just unacceptable.”
“I’m looking at this kid, Tom Aspinall, I’m looking at what combat sports athletes are making around the world, and I’ll be honest with you, it’s absolutely disgusting what they’re paying him and things need to change.”
Hearn is currently involved in a dispute with Benn in which the promoter claims Benn owes him money over past loans, with Benn denying the accusation. Should White agree to release Aspinall, Hearn is happy to let the Benn situation lie.
“I’ll trade that up,” Hearn said. “I’ll walk away from all their problems they’ve got on the Conor Benn legal situation if they release Tom Aspinall. And I will, in writing, it will be five or six times more money he’ll be making, but I will put in writing that Tom Aspinall will make a minimum of three times more than he will under his current contract. There you go. And then we can all celebrate a great athlete, a great fighter, and someone that deserves, like Dana said, to make as much money as he can from the sport.”
