The UFC’s partnership with the General Entertainment Authority of Saudi Arabia had a flying start with a successful Fight Night event this past June. Now, their deal states that the promotion would return for another event in the coming months. However, there have been speculations that Dana White may utilize this partnership to fulfill a longtime dream – getting into the boxing business.

Yes, Dana White had always wanted to promote boxing fights back in the day. However, his passion for boxing would see him getting axed by the big players, and when he was asked about the recent rumors, the UFC CEO claimed he tends to stay away from boxing because of the people involved in it.

“I’ve been talking about getting involved in boxing for a long time… and then every time I get off the phone with a boxing guy, I go, ‘Why in the world would I want to do this?’ Most of them are not good people,” White told ‘Vegas PBS’.

However, things are quite the opposite when it comes to HE Turki Alalshikh-led General Entertainment Authority because they’re looking to help boxing get its footing back. “What’s interesting about what these guys are doing in Saudi Arabia is they’re investing in the sport. Nothing works without an investment,” Dana White further stated.

The CEO claims to have taken a similar route with the UFC, building its infrastructure by investing at every chance he gets. Hence, if Alalshikh plays the right cards, maybe the 55-year-old would consider joining hands with the Saudi officials to start a boxing league.

“When you invest like this [the UFC], the sport continues to grow and everything grows. Boxing has done the exact opposite… Turki is looking to invest in boxing. So… anything is possible,” Dana White added. Besides, in an interview last year, the UFC boss revealed his plans about potentially setting up boxing fights besides MMA and slap-fighting bouts.

Dana White once expressed his wish to make “boxing interesting again”

Dana White revealed in 2023 that he was considering expanding his business ventures in combat sports, which led to the introduction of Power Slap. But that wasn’t it because he also wanted to get into boxing. White claimed that his plans could take a couple of years, with one year already in the rearview, with a primary aim of building a boxing brand similar to what he’s done with the UFC for mixed martial arts.

“I don’t know if I can fix the sport, but I think I can put on fights that people want to see and I can make boxing interesting again and build a brand around it,” Dana White told ‘Sports Business Journal’. These statements have become fuel to the rumors about the 55-year-old’s boxing dreams although he still hasn’t confirmed that he’s indeed working behind the scenes to make it happen.

What do you think about Dana White’s boxing plans? Do you think it’s just a rumor or is he really trying to make a separate brand for the square-circled sport? Let us know in the comments down below.