It seemed like an inevitability that Dana White would ultimately end up involved in the boxing industry in some capacity at some point. White has built UFC into a true monster, and combat sports are always linked to one another in some way. So it wasn’t much of a surprise to hear the news of White entering the boxing world this week.
On Wednesday, White announced a joint partnership with promoter Turki Alalshikh to create a new “boxing league”. White essentially wants to bring his UFC format to boxing, creating a ranking system in which fighters have to climb up in order to get a title shot. It’s an idea that’s been floated around in the past, but White seems to be the guy to make it come to fruition.
Eddie Hearn gives his take on Dana White and Turki Alalshikh’s new boxing league
There’s some uncertainty around whether White could pull it off, particularly with bigger boxing names. Fellow promoter Eddie Hearn doesn’t quite know if it will pan out as hoped, and he doesn’t plan on getting involved anytime soon.
I don’t get the feeling it’s like the big-name fighters. I think maybe they’ll be looking at a lower level to sort of elevate and make those guys stars. Like future stars, because I feel like they won’t want to be in the business of negotiating purse by purse with managers and lawyers and promoters within boxing… I don’t know if it works, if I’m honest. But these guys are very smart, very powerful, and they have a great platform, so you wouldn’t bet against them.
Hearn seems intrigued by the idea, but also unsure if that system could ever feature some of the top boxers on the planet. As Hearn mentions, each big boxing fight comes with an intensive and complex negotiation process.
UFC doesn’t have those types of financial hurdles. This new boxing league may try to copy UFC’s system, but it might only work for lower level fighters.
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