The boxing world is on fire, and it’s not just about the fights in the ring. Max Kellerman has thrown a verbal knockout punch at Eddie Hearn, telling him to mind his own business and accept that the game has already changed. But here’s where it gets controversial: is Kellerman’s stance a bold call for innovation, or is he conveniently overlooking the elephant in the room? Let’s dive in.
After witnessing promoter Eddie Hearn take repeated jabs at Dana White and Zuffa Boxing, Max Kellerman stepped into the fray, refusing to let the attacks go unanswered. Kellerman, who joined Zuffa Boxing’s broadcast team last year—a venture launched by TKO, the parent company of UFC and WWE—has grown increasingly frustrated with Hearn’s attempts to downplay Zuffa’s rise. For Kellerman, the loss of fighter Conor Benn to Zuffa was the final straw, signaling that it’s time for Hearn, Oscar De La Hoya, and other traditional promoters to face reality.
‘They’ve been targeting Zuffa and dragging my name through the mud,’ Kellerman said on his Game Over podcast with co-host Rich Paul. ‘They talk big one day, then cry foul the next. It’s hypocritical, and it’s not good for boxing.’ Kellerman called out Hearn’s recent behavior, noting that he was ‘talking wild’ one moment, only to appear emotionally shaken after losing Benn. ‘You can’t trash-talk on Monday and play the victim on Tuesday,’ Kellerman added. ‘It’s a bad look, and it’s holding the sport back.’
Kellerman argues that boxing has always thrived by embracing new platforms—from the printing press to radio, TV, and cable. Now, he believes streaming is the next frontier, and Zuffa Boxing is leading the charge. ‘Boxing has always been a pioneer in broadcast innovation,’ he explained. ‘It’s cheaper to produce than other sports, and it delivers a loyal audience. Zuffa is just the next step in that evolution.’ But while Kellerman sees Zuffa as a win for fans and fighters, promoters like Hearn and De La Hoya seem determined to cling to the past.
‘The status quo isn’t working,’ Kellerman insisted. ‘Before Zuffa, boxing was virtually absent from broadcast TV in the U.S. This is the new game, whether they like it or not.’ He dismissed Hearn and De La Hoya’s attacks on Dana White and Nick Khan as misguided, adding, ‘They’re picking fights with the wrong people. And as for me? They don’t want this smoke.’
But this is the part most people miss: Zuffa Boxing’s rise isn’t without controversy. While Kellerman paints Zuffa as a revolutionary force, he’s largely silent on its financial backers—Saudi royal Turki Alalshikh and Sela Sport, owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. Since joining Zuffa, Kellerman has faced accusations of becoming a mouthpiece for the Saudi-backed company, a stark contrast to his previous reputation for unbiased commentary. Is Kellerman’s enthusiasm for Zuffa genuine, or is he turning a blind eye to its controversial funding?
Hearn, for his part, would likely argue that Benn was very much his business. For Zuffa, signing Benn was a major victory, but it’s also a move that’s dividing the sport. Is Zuffa’s expansion a step forward for boxing, or is it a risky gamble backed by questionable sources?
As the dust settles, one thing is clear: the boxing landscape is shifting, and Zuffa Boxing is at the center of it. But the question remains: Is this the future boxing needs, or is it a future we should question? What do you think? Let’s hear it in the comments—agree or disagree, the debate is wide open.
