Dana White, the UFC president and CEO, has long been a diehard boxing fan. He used to live and die with the sport when he lived in boxing. One of his favorite fights ever was a 1992 bout in New York between former featherweight champion Kevin Kelley and Troy Dorsey, which is a fight only hardcore fans could recall more than three decades later.
So it's not unusual for White to watch boxing when he has a free moment, even though he's a frequent critic of the sport.
But his support of Irish super welterweight prospect Callum Walsh has taken his interest to another level. White's UFC Fight Pass has been the exclusive television home for Walsh's bout ever since White learned about Walsh from Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach.
The 11-0 Walsh will take the biggest test of his career on Friday in Dublin, Ireland, when he faces Polish veteran Przemyslaw Runowski at 3 Arena in a bout streamed live on UFC Fight Pass. It's also available around the world, including on Rogers SportsNet in Canada and TNT in the U.K.
Promoters Frank and George Warren of Queensberry have an exclusive on TNT, but they released the exclusive to allow TNT to pick up the Walsh-Runoswki feed.
At a fan Q&A in Dublin on Thursday, White said he told the fighters how important the wide distribution of the fight would be for them. In addition to the networks mentioned, White said the show is also on in Japan, China, Russia, India, Pakistan, the Middle East, Northern Africa, Poland, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, Czech Republic, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, Kazakhstan and Mexico, among others.
"It's great to make a lot of money when you're fighting, but it's also very important to do incredible things with lots of people watching," White said.
But according to White, fans will not be able to watch on ESPN+. White ripped Top Rank founder Bob Arum and company president Todd duBoef for not allowing the fight to be streamed on ESPN+. Top Rank has an exclusive for boxing in the U.S. with ESPN.
"The scumbag Bob Arum and his [stepson] Todd duBoef didn't do the same [as the Warrens], so they're pieces of shit," he said.
DuBoef denied that Top Rank blocked ESPN+ from showing the fight in the U.S. and said, "Nobody from UFC ever called us."
White has praised Walsh for his willingness to fight anyone, and said he's facing "real guys," unlike those he would face if he were with most promoters. He said Walsh promoter Tom Loeffler was aggressive in his match-making and that pushed Walsh ahead of where he'd be otherwise.
Walsh is 23 in in Runowski, he's facing a 30-year-old who is 22-2-1 with six knockouts. He's fought a few well-known names, including Josh Kelly, Samuel Vargas and Michael McKinson. White said he likes the fact that Walsh has continually faced more experienced opponents because it will gird him for battle when he's ready for the elite fighters in his division.
"He's still young and this is the big one," White said. "This is a big test for him on Friday. This kid he's fighting is no joke. He's never been stopped. He's durable and has a great record. And on top of that, Callum has to deal with the pressure of fighting in his own country as [the main event].
"Callum doesn't give a shit, though. This is what he wants. And it's no different than the UFC. Once you've gone through the gauntlet of tough guys one away the other, when you get to where you want to go, you're ready for them. You've been through it already, not like what you generally see in boxing."
Top Rank's Xander Zayas is widely considered the top prospect at 154 pounds. He's 22 and is 19-0 with 12 KOs, but seems more advanced than Walsh. When White was asked if he would be OK with Walsh fighting Zayas soon, he deferred to Roach.
Roach said he had no problem with it.
"I have full confidence in Callum's abilities to rise to the challenge when it comes to fighting any opponent," Roach said. "If Tom Loeffler can make the fight, I will have Callum ready."
White's comments about Arum and duBoef would seem to make a Zayas-Walsh bout more difficult, but both duBoef and Top Rank vice president Carl Moretti said they had no problem making it.