Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn weighs in on UFC 306 going head-to-head with Canelo Alvarez vs Edgar Berlanga
09/12/2024 09:28 AM
Combat sports fans will be spoiled for choice this weekend with two fantastic events going down just down the road from each other in Las Vegas; UFC 306 headlined by Sean O'Malley, and a boxing showdown involving Canelo Alvarez.
Whilst fans and pundits alike continue to argue which event will be the one to pull bigger PPV numbers, iconic promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing has now offered his thoughts on the clashing of two combat heavyweights.
Eddie Hearn weighs in on the UFC 306 vs Canelo Alvarez fight debate
Over the past week, almost the entire combat sports world has been busy debating which show, Canelo Alvarez vs Edgar Berlanga or the UFC 306 PPV, will be the one to dominate the headlines come Sunday morning.
Yet despite the arguments on either side, Eddie Hearn believes that fans are missing the bigger picture – telling The Schmo how it’s incredibly rare for two such unbelievable cards to go down on the same night.
"I just think it's really weird how people are so obsessed with the business… I mean it's great that they're passionate, but you've actually got people going on seat maps and counting seats, how many are left and stuff like that.
"Two amazing events, two different sports, two different audiences – yes there is a crossover – but just celebrate it, you know? The event at The Sphere is going to be amazing, this is going to be a great fight and atmosphere for the biggest star in combat sports in Canelo Alvarez."
The message from the consensus best promoter in the boxing world is a rather simple one: "Enjoy it – you've got a choice," between two awesome shows.
"You've got Walgreens [Pharmacy], or you've got CVS; make your choice, two great shops."
Whilst Hearn is bang on the money when he says that, whether you are a predominantly boxing or MMA fanatic, there are some amazing fights on offer this weekend- although there's one other clash that fans are also eagerly awaiting to see play out.
Former world champion and divisive promoter Oscar De La Hoya is set to make a surprise appearance at UFC 306, and not the Canelo Alvarez fight, thanks to the man funding the MMA spectacle, Turki Alalshikh.
"I don't know [about that], I mean one thing with Dana is that he's not going to play ball," stated Hearn, who noted that it's unlikely the UFC President will attempt to squash their beef just because the chairman of the GEA is in attendance.
"Dana White cannot stand Oscar De La Hoya, and I don't think he's going to play ball just to be all pally-pally. Oscar has a lot to say, and he's got an obsession with Canelo Alvarez, he just needs to let it go as Elsa said [in Frozen].
"Just cleanse your soul and let that toxicity be removed from your life and just carry on smiling."
Sean O'Malley believes UFC 306 will pull better numbers than Canelo vs Berlanga
Whilst Eddie Hearn is hopeful that combat sports fans can find a way to enjoy both events this weekend, the main man of the hour for the UFC has a rather different opinion on which show will dominate the headlines.
"I do believe the numbers will be better for the UFC and us that night," Sean O'Malley told the First Take team earlier this week.
"I do believe that Sunday-Monday, that week, it will all be about the Suga Show. I'm defending my belt, the bantamweight champion fighting the number one guy [who's on a] 10-fight win streak in the UFC, the best and biggest platform in MMA sports."
It's safe to say that O'Malley isn't impressed with the boxing showcase being considered an alternative option to the Noche UFC bonanza, even claiming that he's already forgotten who he's meant to be competing against.
"The Canelo's fighting a guy – I know you told me his name the other day and I forgot it already – Yeah, [Edgar] Burrito… I think the UFC, we're going to crush it."
UFC 306: O'Malley vs Dvalishvili and Canelo Alvarez vs Edgar Berlanga both go down this weekend, September 14, live from Las Vegas.
