Dana White’s vision of breaking into the boxing world and shaking up the sport may be closer than ever. The UFC boss, who turned mixed martial arts into a global phenomenon, has long had his sights set on leaving a mark in boxing. He was instrumental in making the 2017 megafight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Conor McGregor a reality. Then, last year, he finally got the opportunity to promote a boxing event. A new factor entered the mix—HE Turki Alalshikh and his Riyadh Season, adding a fresh twist to the landscape. Earlier this year, reports surfaced that TKO Holdings—the parent company of UFC and WWE—was in discussions with HE Turki Alalshikh to launch a boxing league.

Now, it seems those talks have taken a major step forward. Mark Shapiro, President and COO of TKO Holdings, revealed some key details about the deal just a few days back. He said, “Everybody knows we’re in talks with the Saudis, but to give you a little more color, I will tell you that we are close [to] an agreement with the Saudis on the creation of a boxing league where we TKO would be the producer, the promoter and responsible for all day-to-day operations of the venture, whereby, we would receive a fee of $10 million plus,”. But it seems there is more to it. Ring Magazine took to their X account to share the details of the deal.

The tweet read as, “ANNOUNCED: Turki Alalshikh and TKO have signed a multi-year partnership to establish a new boxing promotion with executive leadership anchored by UFC President Dana White and WWE President Nick Khan. The new promotion will feature:  A highly structured system to develop new talent from around the world, including athlete combines and academies”. In 2022, Dana White famously called boxing “a broken business and an absolute nightmare to fix.” But fast forward to 2024, and the landscape appears to be shifting. The UFC CEO has started taking interest in the sport, and with this latest announcement, he is ready to take it to the next level. 

But just like most of his deals, the 55-year-old has once again divided the fans online. One of the biggest features of the league is that it doesn’t include top-tier, superstar boxers or current world champions. Instead, the league is designed to focus on rising contenders, prospects, or lesser-known fighters just below championship level. They will also be given world-class facilities to help them grow and improve as a boxer. However, the fans are still not happy with the UFC head honcho.

Fans feel the new partnership with Turki Alalshikh might not be fruitful

Dana White has been the driving force behind the UFC’s rise to global prominence, but his journey hasn’t been without controversy. Throughout his career, he has faced criticism on multiple fronts—from fighter pay disputes to his outspoken and sometimes abrasive personality. This time he has once again triggered the fans with the latest announcement on X. Let us take a look at what the fans have to say about it.

In recent times, White has closely worked with Turki Alalshikh and has set up impressive UFC events in Saudi Arabia. This forced one user to comment, “Saudi Propaganda” Dana White has made a sudden change in the way he is working towards helping boxing grow. One user took a subtle jab at his change in stance and commented, “Dana came running to boxing after all” suggesting that after years of dismissing the sport, he’s finally making his move. 

One fan acknowledges the vast differences between boxing and MMA, expressing doubt over White’s ability to navigate the boxing landscape. However, they’re keeping an open mind, recognizing that it could lead to positive change and commented, “The only thing I am skeptical of is Dana’s part since boxing and MMA are still completely different worlds, but I won’t knock it. Could turn out to be a good thing. Who knows.” 

Another user seemed optimistic about Alalshikh’s influence, implying that his vision for boxing could bring much-needed structure to the sport, potentially unifying the fragmented championship system and commented “I give it another year before we have one belt in each weight class. Turki’s plan is coming together.” 

One fan is fully on board with the developments, seeing them as an exciting step forward for boxing and eagerly anticipating what’s to come, and commented, “Big moves with Turki Alalshikh and TKO launching a new boxing era—count me in for the action.” While acknowledging the potential for increased exposure and mainstream appeal, one fan remains wary of White’s involvement, likely due to his history of controversy in fighter negotiations. He commented, “Idk how to feel about this, being honest. Sure, it can boost viewership, but I don’t trust Dana lol.” 

One fan appears uninterested in any boxing venture involving the UFC head honcho. They expressed fear that fighters will continue to struggle with pay issues under his leadership and commented, “They lost me with Dana White—he doesn’t like paying fighters.”

These comments reflect a mix of excitement, skepticism, and concern from fight fans regarding Dana White’s involvement in boxing and the rumored collaboration with HE Turki Alalshikh and TKO Holdings. What do you feel about the latest partnership? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.