“Dana White is the new Don King” Former UFC heavyweight warns boxers could face fighter exploitation

Former UFC heavyweight Mark Hunt has sharply criticized Dana White, drawing comparisons to infamous boxing promoter Don King and expressing his disappointment over Australian cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia’s contract with White’s Zuffa Boxing company. Hunt, who competed in both K-1 and PRIDE before his UFC career, also raised concerns about the neurological risks associated with White’s Power Slap competition.

Mark Hunt Sounds the Alarm: Dana White Replicates the ‘Don King’ Model in the Zuffa Boxing Expansion

Hunt didn’t mince his words when characterizing White’s approach to fighter compensation. Dana White is like Don King,” Hunt said. “Think about it. He’s done the same thing to every fighter in the UFC, and everyone who was against him is gone and talked bad about them.”

The comparison to King, who has been widely criticized for exploiting boxers throughout his career, suggests that Hunt believes White operates under similar principles: maximizing promotional profits and minimizing fighters’ earnings, he explained in an interview with CoinPoker.

The former heavyweight prospect explained his views on the UFC compensation structure: “You get a short end of the deal when you’re signed to people like Dana White and Zuffa,” Hunt explained. “They say he’s going to save boxing, but from what? Dana White in boxing, what is he trying to save? He’s just getting something out of the sport like he has done in MMA for years.” White announced Zuffa Boxing in June 2025, with the promotion securing Opetaia as its first major signing in January 2026.

Hunt questioned the legitimacy of the UFC championships themselves. “How’s he going to save boxing? He’s talking about all these belts. Dude, your UFC belt is garbage. Tell me, what do you pay your fighters, Dana?” Hunt said. “The UFC belt is trash. It’s worth absolutely nothing. There’s no integrity in their belts.” Data from the UFC antitrust case revealed that fighters received approx 13-20% of event revenues between 2010 and 2017, compared to 48-50% in major professional sports leagues.

Zuffa Boxing

Hunt also addressed proposed changes to the Muhammad Ali Actfederal legislation designed to protect boxers from exploitative practices. “Why 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,” Hunt asked. “Why are you trying to do that? Because they’re trying to lock them up and they’re already oppressed. There’s no transparency for fighters or anything like that. They’re already taking advantage of it enough without the need to change the Muhammad Ali Act.” 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 say would reduce protections for fighters.

On Opetaia’s decision to sign with Zuffa Boxing, Hunt expressed personal disappointment. “He [Jai Opetaia] is a big boy. He has earned his place where he is now. And at the end of the day, it’s their decision who they go with, regardless of how I feel about it,” Hunt acknowledged. ‘It has nothing to do with me. At the end of the day, it’s his career and his life. It’s a disappointment.” Opetaia, the undefeated IBF and Ring Magazine cruiserweight champion with a 29-0 record, announced his Zuffa Boxing partnership on January 17, 2026.

Dana White’s Power Slap

The Power Slap Competition, launched by White in November 2022 and regulated by the Nevada Athletic Commission, has undergone medical examination. “The problem with slap fights is that they’re all bound to get CTE,” Hunt stated bluntly. His concerns are consistent with research published in JAMA operation in September 2024, where observable signs of concussion were found in 79.1% of professional slap fights, with almost 80% of participants showing at least one visible sign of concussion.

Hunt put even more pressure on athletes’ welfare. “Who takes care of these so-called slapfighter athletes when they’re done with their sport or when they’re done with it? Who takes care of them? Can you tell me who takes care of those people? Or who takes care of the UFC fighters when they’re done?” he asked.

“As for these guys signing with Zuffa or Dana White, it’s only a matter of time before they don’t get their full potential, what they’re worth. They need to know now what they’re worth as a fighter,” Hunt warned.

Hunt’s martial arts references reinforce his criticism. 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 and Mirko Cro Cop.

Zuffa Boxing held its first event on January 23, 2026, with Opetaia set 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’s Sela, with financial arrangements designed to minimize TKO’s risks.

Hunt concluded his assessment by highlighting the pattern he observes in White’s business ventures. “All they’ve done is come from the sport of MMA. They’ve just taken something from the fighters.”