Dana White has formally taken an enormous step into the world of boxing.
On Tuesday, the UFC CEO alongside Saudi Arabian fight sports activities promoter Turki Alalshikh introduced they’ve formally signed a deal to start out a brand new boxing league underneath the TKO banner. WWE President Nick Khan can also be a part of the chief board.
“We’ve got simply completed a deal to start out a brand new boxing league with Turki, who completely loves the game of boxing,” White mentioned in a video on social media.
“I’m very joyful in the present day,” Alalshikh mentioned. “I’m very joyful in the present day. I give the flag of boxing to one of the best man who can deal with it. We’ve got a tricky job now, however I’m positive he can be delivering to the folks and the followers the magnificent league and get boxing nice once more.”
“The mannequin is confirmed to ship the fights that the followers need to see,” White mentioned. “The most effective will struggle one of the best and the fighters will proceed to maneuver up the rankings and turn into world champions. We are going to proceed to make bulletins on the place you may watch and all the remainder of the main points on the enterprise as we get nearer to the launch.”
Saudi leisure conglomerate Sela can also be a associate within the deal, in response to a press launch. Sela was additionally concerned within the latest Anthony Joshua vs. Daniel Dubois occasion at Wembley Stadium in London, in addition to Terence Crawford’s title protection in opposition to Israil Madrimov in Los Angeles.
The announcement was a formality at this level, with TKO President and COO Mark Shapiro recently saying the organization was in negotiations with Saudi Arabia to fund a brand new boxing promotion. Shapiro additionally teased the potential of two main playing cards that might happen in 2025 and 2026 as a part of the deal.
““It is a strategic alternative to reimagine the game of boxing globally,” Shapiro mentioned in Tuesday’s press launch. “TKO has the deep experience, promotional prowess, and longstanding relationships. Turki Alalshikh and Sela share our ardour and imaginative and prescient for evolving the present mannequin. Collectively, we are able to convey the candy science again to its rightful place within the forefront of the worldwide sports activities ecosystem.”
Alalshikh’s The Ring journal shared the announcement, which featured extra particulars of the settlement.
‼️ ANNOUNCED: Turki Alalshikh and TKO have signed a multi-year partnership to determine a brand new boxing promotion with government management anchored by UFC President Dana White and WWE President Nick Khan. The brand new promotion will function:
A extremely structured system to develop new… pic.twitter.com/tK5auLy1UO
— Ring Journal (@ringmagazine) March 5, 2025
The brand new promotion will function:
A extremely structured system to develop new expertise from world wide, together with athlete combines and academies.
Entry for all boxers to the UFC Efficiency Institute, the world’s main fight sports activities efficiency coaching, analysis, rehabilitation, and vitamin middle.
TKO’s manufacturing, media, and promotional experience, to ship each in-arena experiences and top-tier, state-of-the-art broadcasts to followers world wide.
Up to now, White has regularly criticized boxing playing cards for being prime heavy with little try and construct compelling undercards for the followers, which he has at all times seen as a energy of the UFC enterprise mannequin.
Alalshikh dabbled in making a extra MMA-esque card with an occasion on Feb. 22 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, that was dubbed “The Final Crescendo.” The lineup featured a number of title bouts, headlined by an exciting undisputed gentle heavyweight championship rematch between Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev.
It’s not but identified what the brand new enterprise can be titled and fighter signings, dates, and places are pending, with the announcement stating particulars are to “be revealed within the coming months.”
