Dana White Twitter
“What’s up everybody, it’s Dana White Eddie Hearn!”
There is no denying that Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) president Dana White knows a thing or three about pumping up a fight card, be it a stacked pay-per-view (PPV) offering or your weekly Fight Night event taking place all the way in New Zealand.
Throughout his years as company president, White has implemented different ways of promoting his fight cards. Over the last couple of years, the outspoken head honcho of the biggest mixed martial arts (MMA) organization in the world has made it tradition to hype upcoming events a couple days from showtime by doing a quick breakdown of the fights via social media.
Prime examples here, here and here.
Now, White’s influence is rubbing off on the boxing world, as boxing promoter, Eddie Hearn — the man in charge of Matchroom Sport — did his best impression of White to promote his upcoming event, which is set to go down this Saturday (Feb. 29, 2020) in Frisco, Texas.
In fact, Hearn — who has a very good relationship with Dana — admits its a complete ripoff of the UFC president tradition.
“I’ve seen Dana White doing it, and I’m just completely copying his idea,” Hearn said. “In fact, I do look a little bit like Dana White, but with hair.”
Imitation is the greatest form of flattery.
Headlining the eight-fight card — which is set to stream on DAZN all across America and on Sky Sports in the UK — will see former IBF Welterweight champion, Mikey Garcia (39-1) take on former WBO Welterweight title holder, Jessie Vargas.
DO NOT MISS THIS live on @DAZN_USA !! @mikeygarcia v @jessievargas_ ready for WAR in Texas this Saturday!! @WBCBoxing @SkySportsBoxing @thestarinfrisco pic.twitter.com/AsSgXvGNgJ
— Eddie Hearn (@EddieHearn) February 25, 2020
Garcia is coming off his first-ever loss last March, losing his title to Errol Spence Jr. in Arlington, Texas. Prior to that, Garcia had won his first 39 fights, 30 by way of knockout, and scored big wins over Robert Easter Jr. and Adrien Broner. Vargas, meanwhile, boasts an impressive record of 29-2-2 with his last defeat coming at the hands of Manny Pacquiao in 2016.
In interviews past, Hearn — who also promotes Heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua — has gone on record to say he’s a huge fan of White’s and admits that a lot of things he does for his events is based off what has worked for UFC.
“I’m a massive Dana White fan. I don’t want to sound like a fanboy, but I have massive respect for what UFC has done. In fact, I will be honest that a lot of the things that we do are based around the success that the UFC has done,” he added. “Him and the UFC business is hugely motivational to what we do.”
Hearn’s boxing event will stream head-to-head against UFC Fight Night 169, which will go down in Norfolk, Virginia and features a Flyweight title fight between Joseph Benavidez and Deiveson Figueiredo.
Now, it just remains to be seen if Hearn’s new promotion tactics do indeed draw more views and media attention.
Oh, wait…