The criticism came when reporters asked about the IBF’s decision earlier this week to withdraw recognition of Opetaia’s title defense during fight week. The sanctioning body initially approved the fight before reversing course shortly before the event, leaving the IBF title up for grabs.
Dana said the situation reflects issues he has noticed since entering the sport.
“This sport is broken for a reason,” Dana said during the press conference. “Everybody’s a bunch of rinky-dink.”
White continued the criticism as he described the people involved in running the sport.
“These people are so bad at what they do,” Dana said.
Dana also noted that Opetaia had already paid the sanction fee before the IBF withdrew recognition of the title defense.
Dana said his early experience in boxing surprised him with how the sport operated and how many of its problems remained unsolved.
White said Zuffa plans to apply the same promotional model that helped build the UFC. That approach focuses on signing fighters the promotion considers to be among the best in their divisions and staging regular events built around recognizable names.
Dana also pointed to the number of promoters and sanctioning bodies working in boxing as one of the reasons the sport has struggled to address many of its longstanding issues. Various organizations sanction world titles in the sport, often requiring separate approval and fees when belts are put on the line.
White argued that the structure creates complications when trying to stage major battles. The IBF situation surrounding the Opetaia bout was one of the first disputes between Zuffa Boxing and a traditional sanctioning body since the promotion entered the sport.
The comments reflected Dana’s view that many of boxing’s problems stemmed from the way the sport was run.
