Dana White has never been known for thinking small, and his latest mission might be his boldest yet: reshaping professional boxing from the ground up. As the driving force behind the soon-to-launch Zuffa Boxing, White is openly declaring war on the existing power structure of the sport — and he insists he’s just getting started.
In a recent interview with ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, the 56-year-old doubled down on his long-running criticism of boxing’s system and promised to back up his talk with action.
“I’ve talked smack about boxing for years,” White said. “Now it’s time to put my money where my mouth is. I’m getting rid of the sanctioning organizations. The best will fight the best. We’re going to sign the next generation of stars.”
A New Promotion With a New Power Structure
Zuffa Boxing is being launched in partnership with Turki Alalshikh, the current owner of Ring Magazine. Notably, Ring’s championship titles and rankings will be the only ones officially recognized by Zuffa Boxing — a direct challenge to boxing’s four major sanctioning bodies: the WBC, WBO, WBA and IBF.
Those organizations have already taken notice. The WBC responded to White’s plans with a sarcastic public welcome letter in late 2025, criticizing his attempts to alter the Muhammad Ali Reform Act and questioning his vision for the sport.
But White appears unfazed. His plan is to bring the same structure that turned the UFC into a global powerhouse — central control, consistent matchmaking, and fewer political barriers between top fighters.
“The Best Will Actually Fight the Best”
White believes the current boxing model protects fighters’ records rather than testing them. In his view, too many boxers stay undefeated simply because they avoid dangerous matchups.
“Everybody’s undefeated in boxing because nobody fights anybody,” White said. “In Zuffa Boxing, everybody will fight everybody. If you’re in the top 10 and still undefeated, your record will actually mean something.”
It’s the same philosophy that made the UFC’s ranking and matchmaking system so compelling for fans — and White is betting it can do the same for boxing.
If his model succeeds, it could fundamentally change how champions are crowned, how contenders rise, and how fans engage with the sport.
Launch Date, Broadcast Deal, and What Comes Next
Zuffa Boxing is set to officially debut on January 23 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The event will stream exclusively on Paramount+, which has signed a five-year deal with the promotion.
Plans are already in place for 12 events per year — one every month — signaling that White isn’t testing the waters. He’s diving in headfirst.
Whether boxing’s old guard can resist the disruption remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: Dana White isn’t entering boxing quietly — he’s coming to take over.
