The former WBC cruiserweight world champion expressed concern about White’s understanding of boxing, suggesting that experience in mixed martial arts does not automatically translate to success within boxing’s established structure.
“Dana White is an embarrassment from a boxing perspective,” Bellew told Fight Your Conner and Stomping Ground.
“When someone can speak boxing, it’s like speaking a foreign language, isn’t it? You know immediately if someone can speak it.
“When you can’t talk about the whole card you put up, it’s dangerous. If you can’t name the whole map and all your fighters, you’re in the wrong sport.”
White officially launched Zuffa Boxing in 2025 under the TKO Group banner in partnership with Saudi-backed Sela.
After promoting the Canelo Alvarez-Terence Crawford bout in September 2025, Zuffa Boxing expanded to a more consistent schedule of shows in early 2026.
Despite his criticism, Bellew was quick to acknowledge White’s accomplishments with the UFC.
“I’m saying this from a man that I have huge amounts of respect for and admire what he’s done and what he’s built with the UFC because I’m a UFC fan,” Bellew said.
“I have so much admiration.”
White has previously outlined ambitions to introduce elements of the UFC model into boxing, including a more structured promotional system and a consistent calendar of events designed to build fighters into recognizable stars.
However, Bellew believes boxing’s traditional structure makes that approach problematic, especially when it comes to fighters.
“I care about the fighters and what they do to fighters, and what they intend to do to fighters is wrong in every possible way.
“The main thing they don’t care about is the fighters,” Bellew said.
Zuffa Boxing promoted the Canelo Alvarez-Terence Crawford event in September 2025 before expanding to a broader slate of shows throughout 2026. The company has since continued to expand its schedule while increasing the frequency of its events in the United States and internationally.
