Dana White, the head of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), is officially expanding his influence into professional boxing.
On Tuesday, White, in collaboration with Saudi Arabian sports promoter Turki Alalshikh, revealed their agreement to establish a new boxing league under the TKO Group umbrella. Nick Khan, President of WWE, is also a part of the leadership team.
In a video shared on social media, White stated that they have finalized a deal with Turki to launch this new boxing league, highlighting Alalshikh’s deep passion for boxing.
Alalshikh expressed his enthusiasm, stating he is handing over the “flag of boxing” to someone he believes is best equipped to lead it. He acknowledged the challenge ahead but voiced confidence in delivering a remarkable league that will revitalize boxing for fans.
White explained that their model is designed to consistently deliver the fights that fans are eager to see, ensuring that the best fighters compete against each other, progress in rankings, and have the opportunity to become world champions. He added that further details regarding broadcast information and other business aspects will be announced as they approach the league’s launch.
According to a press release, Saudi entertainment conglomerate Sela is also a partner in this initiative. Sela has recently been involved in significant boxing events, including Anthony Joshua vs. Daniel Dubois and Terence Crawford vs. Israil Madrimov.
This announcement was largely expected, as TKO President Mark Shapiro had previously indicated that the organization was in discussions with Saudi Arabia to finance a new boxing promotion. Shapiro also hinted at the possibility of hosting two major fight cards in 2025 and 2026 as part of this agreement.
Shapiro stated in Tuesday’s press release that this is a “strategic opportunity to reimagine the sport of boxing on a global scale.” He emphasized TKO’s expertise, promotional capabilities, and established relationships, combined with the shared passion and vision of Turki Alalshikh and Sela, to restore boxing to its prominent position in the global sports landscape.
The Ring magazine, associated with Alalshikh, also shared the announcement, providing additional details about the agreement.
Key aspects of the new promotion include:
- A well-defined system for nurturing emerging talent from around the world, incorporating athlete combines and academies.
- Access to the UFC Performance Institute for all boxers, providing world-class training, research, rehabilitation, and nutritional resources.
- Leveraging TKO’s production, media, and promotional expertise to deliver exceptional in-arena experiences and high-quality broadcasts to fans globally.
In the past, White has often criticized boxing events for concentrating talent at the top while neglecting the development of compelling undercards, which he has always considered a key strength of the UFC business model.
Alalshikh has previously experimented with creating a more MMA-style event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in February, featuring multiple title fights, signaling a potential shift in boxing event structure.
The name of the new league, fighter signings, event dates, and locations are yet to be announced, with further details expected to be revealed in the coming months.
