{"id":430450,"date":"2026-01-24T15:01:18","date_gmt":"2026-01-24T15:01:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/430450\/"},"modified":"2026-01-24T15:01:18","modified_gmt":"2026-01-24T15:01:18","slug":"dana-white-is-the-new-don-king-former-ufc-heavyweight-warns-boxing-could-face-fighter-exploitation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/430450\/","title":{"rendered":"“Dana White Is The New Don King” Former UFC Heavyweight Warns Boxing Could Face Fighter Exploitation"},"content":{"rendered":"

Former UFC heavyweight Mark Hunt<\/a> has launched sharp criticism at Dana White, drawing comparisons to notorious boxing promoter Don King and expressing disappointment over Australian cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia signing with White\u2019s Zuffa Boxing venture. Hunt, who competed in both K-1 and PRIDE before his UFC career, also raised concerns about the neurological risks associated with White\u2019s Power Slap competition.<\/p>\n

Mark Hunt Raises Alarm: Dana White Replicating \u201cDon King\u201d Model in Zuffa Boxing Expansion<\/p>\n

Hunt did not mince words when characterizing White\u2019s approach to fighter compensation. Dana White<\/a> is like Don King,\u201d Hunt stated. \u201cThink about it. He\u2019s done the same thing to every fighter in UFC, and then everyone that\u2019s gone against him, he\u2019s gone and spoken badly about them.\u201d <\/p>\n

The comparison to King, widely criticized for exploiting boxers throughout his career, suggests Hunt believes White operates under similar principles of maximizing promotional profits while minimizing fighter earnings, he explained in an interview with CoinPoker<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The former heavyweight contender elaborated on his view of the UFC compensation structure: \u201cYou\u2019re going to get a short end of the deal when you\u2019re signed with people like Dana White and Zuffa,\u201d Hunt explained. \u201cThey say that he is going to save boxing, but from what? Dana White in boxing, what\u2019s he trying to save? He just takes from the sport like he\u2019s done in MMA for many years.\u201d White announced Zuffa Boxing<\/a> in June 2025, with the promotion securing Opetaia as its first major signing in January 2026.<\/p>\n

Hunt questioned the legitimacy of UFC championships themselves. \u201cHow is he going to save boxing? He\u2019s talking about all these belts. Dude, your UFC belt is garbage. Tell me, what do you pay your fighters, Dana?\u201d Hunt said. \u201cThe UFC belt is trash. It\u2019s worth absolutely nothing. There\u2019s no integrity in their belts.\u201d Data from the UFC antitrust lawsuit<\/a> revealed fighters received approximately 13-20<\/a>% of event revenues between 2010 and 2017, compared to 48-50% in major professional sports leagues.<\/p>\n

\"Dana<\/p>\n

Zuffa Boxing<\/p>\n

Hunt also addressed proposed changes to the Muhammad Ali Act<\/a>, federal legislation designed to protect boxers from exploitative practices. \u201cWhy are they trying to change the Ali Act? What is the point of changing the Ali Act? The Ali Act helps the fighters, it gives them transparency,\u201d Hunt questioned. \u201cWhy are you trying to do that? Because they\u2019re trying to lock them down and they\u2019re already being oppressed. There\u2019s no transparency for fighters or anything. They\u2019re really taking advantage of them enough as it is, without the need to change the Muhammad Ali Act.\u201d The California State Athletic Commission voted 6-0 in October 2025 to support the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act, legislation backed by Zuffa Boxing that critics argue would reduce fighter protections.<\/p>\n

Regarding Opetaia\u2019s decision to sign with Zuffa Boxing, Hunt expressed personal disappointment. \u201cHe [Jai Opetaia] is a big boy. He\u2019s earned his spot to where he is. And at the end of the day, it\u2019s their decision on who they go with, despite the way I feel about it,\u201d Hunt acknowledged. \u201cIt\u2019s got nothing to do with me. It\u2019s his career and his life at the end of the day. It\u2019s a disappointment.\u201d Opetaia, the undefeated IBF and Ring Magazine cruiserweight champion with a 29-0 record, announced his Zuffa Boxing partnership on January 17, 2026.<\/p>\n

\"Dana<\/p>\n

Dana White\u2019s Power Slap<\/p>\n

The Power Slap competition, launched by White<\/a> in November 2022 and regulated by the Nevada Athletic Commission, has drawn medical scrutiny. \u201cThe problem with slap fighting is that all of them are definitely getting CTE for sure,\u201d Hunt stated bluntly. His concerns align with research published in JAMA Surgery<\/a> in September 2024, which found observable signs of concussion in 79.1% of professional slap fighting matches, with nearly 80% of participants exhibiting at least one visible concussion sign.<\/p>\n

Hunt pressed further on athlete welfare. \u201cWho looks out for these so-called slap fighter athletes when they\u2019re done with their sport or when they\u2019re done with them? Who looks after them? Can you tell me who looks after those people? Or who looks after the UFC fighters when they\u2019re done?\u201d he asked. <\/p>\n

\u201cAs for these guys signing with Zuffa or Dana White, it\u2019s only a matter of time before they\u2019re not getting their full potential, what they\u2019re worth. They should know their worth now as a fighter,\u201d Hunt warned.<\/p>\n

Hunt\u2019s combat sports credentials add weight to his criticisms. Before joining the UFC, the New Zealand-born fighter won the K-1 World Grand Prix championship in 2001, defeating Francisco Filho in the final. He also competed in PRIDE Fighting Championships from 2004 to 2006, facing elite opponents including Fedor Emelianenko<\/a> and Mirko Cro Cop. <\/p>\n

Zuffa Boxing held its inaugural event on January 23, 2026, with Opetaia scheduled to defend his cruiserweight titles on March 8, 2026 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The promotion operates as a joint venture between TKO Group Holdings and Saudi Arabia\u2019s Sela, with financial arrangements designed to minimize TKO\u2019s risk exposure.<\/p>\n

Hunt concluded his assessment by emphasizing the pattern he perceives across White\u2019s business ventures. \u201cAll they\u2019ve done is just taken from the sport of MMA. They just take from the fighters.\u201d<\/p>\n

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