Saudi Arabia, UFC, And TKO Could Launch A New Boxing League

January 9, 2025
1 month
Saudi Arabia, UFC, And TKO Could Launch A New Boxing League

Saudi Arabia and its Public Investment Fund could team up with the UFC to create a new boxing league.

According to a report from the New York Times, the two parties could join forces via TKO Group Holdings Inc. to create a league. The arrangement would be as follows: TKO Group Holdings would be a managing partner, receiving a share of the revenue and some equity. The PIF would remain the owner via their subsidiary Sela.

Dana White has repeatedly hinted at entering the sport of boxing. He does have some history, having helped stage Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor in 2017. The fight became one of the biggest-selling PPVs of all time. It also earned McGregor his career-highest payday at that point, which was $100 million. It also set the scene for more crossover fights, as several other MMA fighters have entered the boxing ring. There were suggestions White could have launched his Zuffa Boxing in 2018. Although that never gained any traction, TKO has retained interest.

Interest

“Look, boxing is something we would do organically. So nothing to buy, just something we’d start up and likely take a partner from the Middle East that would serve as an investment partner for us. So that’s something we’re exploring right now. Nothing to announce,” TKO’s Mark Shapiro

Whit has also criticized boxing for not putting on the biggest fights, suggesting that conflicts between promoters prevented the best fights from being made. However, the introduction of Saudi Arabia into combat sports has changed that. The Saudis have invested heavily in MMA and boxing. They have helped the PFL and the UFC put on combat sports events. They also sponsored UFC 306 at The Sphere, which became the first outfit to hold a combat sports event at that arena. The UFC set a live gate record of $22 million.

The Saudis have also invested heavily in boxing, having put on mega fights. They put on the first undisputed heavyweight championship fight since 1999 as Oleksandr Usyk defeated Tyson Fury. The implications of a boxing league are huge. It could help create a league where the best fighters face each other. It also potentially guarantees boxers the opportunity to have regular fights, ending the need for numerous governing bodies.

Implications

Governing bodies are criticized for their sanctioning fees and the failure to enforce mandatories. The ranking system has also been called into question with numerous champions. The move may also give fans more value and fit the wider vision of the Saudis to create affordable PPVs. The drawback is that fans may have to travel to The Kingdom to see the best fights.

There is a danger that boxing moves away from the grassroots in the United States and the UK, meaning that only a few select get the opportunity to make it. While that may be the case, it could have the impact of streamlining the sport and ultimately increasing competition. And if fighters are paid a significant amount more, it may be a sacrifice worth taking.

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