It’s official – boxing has a new league, and many believe it could reshape the sport’s future. After months of speculation, HE Turki Alalshikh and UFC President Dana White have formally announced a new boxing promotion. The venture, backed by TKO Holdings (which owns UFC and WWE), along with HE Alalshikh and Sela, will reportedly launch its first event in 2026. According to White and Nick Khan, a TKO board member, they want to ‘break the sport down and build it from the ground up.’

Not everyone is thrilled about White’s involvement in boxing. Given the criticism surrounding UFC’s fighter pay and treatment, some argue that his entry into the sport could be detrimental. Former light welterweight and welterweight champion-turned-commentator Paulie Malignaggi has been particularly vocal in his opposition. On the latest episode of his podcast, ‘Paulie TV,’ the Brooklyn-born former champion did not hold back.

Storm clouds ahead!

He began by briefly discussing the Gervonta Davis vs. Lamont Roach Jr. situation. With the May 2 ‘Fatal Fury’ event approaching, Malignaggi acknowledged HE Turki Alalshikh’s contributions to boxing. For making big fights happen and ensuring competitive payouts for fighters, he commended the Riyadh Season head. However, he also raised concerns about whether the market is being inflated to an unsustainable level. However, Paulie Malignaggi’s initial praise quickly shifted to criticism. He took issue with reports that Riyadh Season allegedly restricted journalists from BoxingScene.com (owned by ProBox TV) from covering events due to past criticism. He argued that such actions harm the integrity of boxing media.

But there remained a lingering issue. “Why am I saying all these things?” Malignaggi asked before explaining, “Because you’re doing well for the most part; people are happy. Why would you align with a guy like Dana White, who has such a bad reputation?”

He blasted the UFC president for how poorly he compensates fighters. As an example, he pointed to former UFC heavyweight champion-turned-boxer Francis Ngannou. “Francis Ngannou, who is basically the Deontay Wilder of the heavyweight division… at the time a super heavyweight division at the time $600,000 for a main event plus a couple of pay-per-view points? Dude, the guys in boxing make 30, 40, 50, 60 million dollars a fight at that level!” he exclaimed.

According to Malignaggi, every MMA fighter he has spoken to either dislikes White or refuses to comment on him. In many ways, it reinforces the belief that White mistreats fighters. Malignaggi argued that White’s UFC model – locking fighters into restrictive contracts and controlling matchmaking – won’t work in boxing. In sweet science, fighters and promoters have greater independence. He expressed disappointment in Alalshikh’s decision. Given White’s reputation, he wondered whether boxers would even be willing to sign with him.

Ultimately, Malignaggi remains skeptical about White’s chances of success in boxing. White has long attempted to break into the sport. However, boxing operates differently from MMA.

What we know so far

While many questions remain, one thing is clear: TKO will function as the managing partner and oversee the day-to-day operations of the promotion. Specific details remain unavailable. However, it appears that boxers will have access to the UFC Performance Institute’s state-of-the-art training facilities in Las Vegas, Mexico City, and Shanghai.

TKO will also handle production, media, and promotion for the events. So, basically, they may control how fights are broadcast, marketed, and structured. The promise of worldwide broadcasts suggests an ambitious, large-scale approach to global boxing. However, much remains to be seen regarding fighter signings, event dates, and the overall structure of the promotion.

What do you think? Do you agree with Paulie Malignaggi’s concerns, or do you see Dana White’s entry into boxing as a positive development?