Something that not many are mentioning in the big news for boxing this week is why UFC boss Dana White waited so long to finally get into boxing.
After all, he had been talking about it for the last few years but after seeing how complicated it can be, he dipped his toes in here and there and does promote exciting prospect Callum Walsh, as well as UFC Fight Pass showing some boxing cards occasionally, but now he is fully going all in.
Speaking to The Ring, White and Turki Alalshikh dug into things a bit more and what sparked the deal and the exciting news for boxing to work together in a new promotion and league similar to the UFC for boxing:
“Interviewer: Packed here for The Ring. I’m here with His Excellency Turki Alalshikh and CEO of UFC, Dana White. You guys just signed a massive, ground-breaking deal. What’s the feeling right now?
Dana White: I’m excited, you know. I wouldn’t be where I am today without boxing. The sport of boxing is where I started. I felt like it was something that could never be fixed until this guy showed up. He has done more for boxing than any promoter in the history of the sport combined. He has invested more money, more energy, and more passion into this sport than literally anyone ever. So, for me, when we first met, I didn’t know what to think. He and I became very close friends in a very short amount of time, and there aren’t a lot of people I would do a deal like this with. Actually, there’s no one else—he’s the only guy, to be honest with you. What he’s done for the sport is incredible, and I’m looking forward to it.
Interviewer: Your Excellency, how are you feeling right now?
Turki Alalshikh: First of all, he’s not the only CEO now for UFC—he’s the CEO of the new company also. Second, I cannot do anything without the support of my Crown Prince. First of all, the King—God bless him—and the Crown Prince, our leader, support us in everything we have. If you want to fix boxing or any sport, or do some big project like this, there are no better options than White. I saw him in this hotel one year ago, as you remember, with our friends, Nick, and we were talking about this. We went back and forth, and we have the same vision. I trust that this league, in a short time, will crush everything.
Interviewer: So, what should fans expect? You know, there’s a lot of speculation on the format, what this might be. What can you give us right now?
Dana White: There’s zero speculation on the format. You know the format, and everybody knows the format: the best fight the best. You work your way up the rankings, and once somebody breaks into the top five, there’s no question who the best five guys in the world are in each weight class. They fight it out, and then once somebody holds that belt, you don’t need three letters in front of the belt. Whoever has that belt is the best in the world in that weight class. It’s a very simple model.
Turki Alalshikh: I support him with everything. This is his call now. It’s his responsibility to deliver the best models of boxing to the people and the fans.”
Let us digest some of that.
Some very interesting other points there that have been a little bit lost in the news so far this week not touched on by man.
Basically White had what he called Zuffa Boxing on hold for years because he didn’t really see the opportunity to do something in boxing properly — up until now that is.
It is because as he says the passion Turki Alalshikh has shown in a quick time who is crushing it and shows that this is a very unique time for boxing in unchartered but bigger than ever before seen waters.
White will look to bulldoze his way into boxing most likely.
Boxing must surf the wave of momentum in these new waters for the sweet science and the fact White is looking to see the best fight the best says it all.
That formula works.
It is all about the fights at the end of the day.
You combine that with more production and bigger platforms for boxing being shown in more countries, things will really start to happen soon enough.
