Boxing, often referred to as “the sweet science,” has long captivated audiences with its blend of skill, heart, and brutal competition. However, beneath the glitz and glamour lies a darker reality—corruption has been a persistent stain on the sport for decades. From shady promoters to controversial judging and fixed fights, boxing has often found itself battling more than just what happens inside the ring. However, Dana White is now entering the field and has said, “I like taking things are that broken, can’t be fixed and I’m going to fix them.” But will he be able to do that? Joe Rogan feels he will have a tough task on his hands.

Joe Rogan invited Brendan Schaub to his JRE Fight Companion episode on March 22. One of the points of discussion was the controversial boxing clash between Gervonta Davis and Lamont Roach Jr. Although Davis retained his WBA lightweight title. The fight was marked by a huge controversy which included a non-knockdown in the ninth round after Davis took a knee. Moreso, the final scorecards were 115-113 for Davis, and 114-114 twice. During the podcast, Rogan said, “Did you see the Lamont Roach and Gervonte Davis fight? Well, especially with the knockdown like that’s a real knockdown. You take a knee that’s a 10-8 round.” 

Schaub was quick to point out and said, “And then Gervonte was like, ‘I had something in my eye.’ I don’t give a f**k. You took a knee. You know the rules. Them the rules.” The UFC color commentator pointed out how there was no replay available for the judges to see which forced the former UFC fighter to comment, “Boxing is so corrupt dude. Dana getting involved in it. It might help it.” Well, looking at the way the UFC head honcho has managed the promotion for 30 years, fans do have high hopes for him. However, Rogan doesn’t quite feel it will be an easy task to refine the system so quickly.

He quickly responded, “Perhaps, or you know can’t change a tiger stripes.” The 55-year-old has already turned a lot of heads after announcing his new venture with his Excellence Turki Alalshikh and TKO Holdings. This newly established boxing league marks one of the most groundbreaking developments in combat sports in recent years. Informally known as TKO Boxing, the league sets out to overhaul the “broken” landscape of professional boxing, promising a fresh and restructured approach to the sport. Amidst all the doubts surrounding the league, former UFC fighter Josh ‘The Punk’ Thomson feels it will be a success.

Former UFC fighter has high hopes for Dana White’s new venture

One of the most pressing issues in boxing today is fighter pay. To casual fans, the sport may seem lucrative, but the reality is far less glamorous. Many up-and-coming boxers struggle to make ends meet, often earning as little as $1,000 to $4,000 per fight—barely enough to cover training expenses. It’s a harsh truth that highlights the imbalance in the sport’s financial structure.

However, Dana White has vowed to change this system and bring stability to fighter compensation. While this new approach may seem unfamiliar to both fans and boxers, former UFC fighter Josh Thomson believes it has the potential to be a game-changer.

The league is heavily focused on cultivating young boxing talent and providing long-term development opportunities. While Josh Thomson admits that fighters may earn less at the start, he believes this structured system will set them up for greater success as they advance in their careers.

While speaking to ‘Big’ John McCarthy’ he said, “The younger stars are going to get this type of salary and then those younger stars will become big names. And they’ll end up making what guys like Jon Jones, what guys like GSP they are going to end up making those. But they are gonna wait to build those guys up under their own promotion so that those boxers don’t know anything else but Dana White and Turki Alalshikh. It’s a brilliant plan!” 

Will Dana White be able to make a change in the sport of boxing? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.