UFC PRESIDENT Dana White has flirted with the thought of transferring into boxing promotion for a number of years now. Initially it was going to be Zuffa Boxing, a model new promotional outfit that may invade the sport and alter it for good. Then, White claimed that boxing is way too difficult and that he doesn’t have the time nor effort to make a critical play.
Well, he’s now backtracked on that backtrack and is outwardly going to formally launch a boxing promotion in the subsequent 12 to 24 months. That’s in accordance with an interview he gave to the Sports Business Journal wherein he stated, “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.”
For argument’s sake, let’s take White at his phrase and count on him to launch this firm inside the subsequent two years – how would that look? The first subject could be broadcasting – White hasn’t given any hints as to a broadcast deal for his potential new boxing enterprise. The UFC are at present in a profitable contract with ESPN, whereas right here in the UK its exhibits air on BT Sport.
Given these pre-existing relationships, White could possibly prolong these offers to his new boxing promotion. However, White’s most up-to-date enterprise exterior of the UFC – the Power Slap League, the place two folks actually simply stand in entrance of each other and take turns slapping one another as arduous as they will – initially signed a broadcast take care of TBS. That deal will solely final for one season although as TBS determined to finish the partnership – obscure streaming platform Rumble then picked up international rights.
It’s unlikely a boxing firm would face the similar struggles although, as the Power Slap League has been mired in controversy ever because it launched again in January and doesn’t have the established viewers that boxing does.
Then there’s the matter of which boxers White might lure in. And that is the place issues get actually fascinating. At this stage it’s unclear whether or not Endeavour – the guardian firm of the UFC – would even be concerned on this transfer into boxing. If it’s, it will have the sources to grant White an unlimited struggle chest, not dissimilar to the one DAZN launched with a few years in the past.
If White is ready to set up a take care of a main broadcaster after which even have the funds to pay fighters hefty purses, he would have virtually all the pieces he wants to draw some of boxing’s greatest stars.
Of course, new boxing promotions pop up all the time – so why all this fuss over one which hasn’t even formally launched? It’s as a result of of the UFC. As a model and a enterprise, it’s enormously profitable and larger than another combat promotion on the planet. It has its personal rankings and world titles and is universally recognised as the place the place the greatest combined martial artists on the planet ply their commerce.
If a related model was successfully launched to the boxing market, it will trigger disruption on a degree we now have by no means seen. The UFC’s monopoly on MMA implies that sanctioning our bodies like the WBC, WBA, WBO and IBF are irrelevant. They have one set of rankings and one champion per division (bar the odd ‘Interim’ champion when the full champion is in any other case indisposed). Drug testing procedures are the similar for each fighter signed to the UFC. All the huge selections are made in-house. There aren’t any broadcast disputes.
So, if the UFC model could possibly be copy-and-pasted onto boxing, it looks as if it will solve a lot of main issues. But it’s not that straightforward. One of, if not the, largest criticisms levelled at the UFC is the quantity it pays its fighters. Their purses – significantly these at the high degree – pale compared to that of boxers. And these decrease outgoings are half of the cause the UFC continues to develop.
It’s virtually unattainable for White to implement the UFC model in boxing whereas nonetheless paying any boxers he indicators the sort of purses they’ve grown accustomed to.
That’s what makes this transfer so fascinating. White has a wildly profitable blueprint to work from, however he must tweak it in order that it’s sustainable inside the wildlands of boxing. When the UFC started, MMA was nonetheless in its infancy and working in the shadows. Boxing is a longtime and main international sport – to carve out a success inside it’s no straightforward feat.
Apparently it’s additionally not that straightforward to fail in boxing both. Despite failing two drug assessments final yr and never but totally clearing his title, Conor Benn is a particularly profitable return to motion. According to promoter Eddie Hearn there are three choices on the desk: Manny Pacquiao, Chris Eubank Jnr and Kell Brook. You may discover that two of these names are at present retired from boxing, however don’t let that idiot you.
Any one of these fights could be enormous and, let’s face it, for all the fallacious causes. Pacquiao and Brook must be doing their greatest to make the most of their well-earned retirements whereas Eubank Jnr – who of course was purported to combat Benn earlier than the failed assessments got here to mild – must as soon as once more boil himself down to take action.
It’s a sorry state of affairs. Benn must be focusing solely on legitimately clearing his title with the proof he already claims to have however as an alternative he will probably be rewarded with what is going to absolutely be the largest purse of his profession thus far.
Boxing on the Box
March 24
Lyndon Arthur-Braian Nahuel Suarez
Channel 5
Coverage begins at 10pm
March 25
Lawrence Okolie-David Light
Sky Sports Action
Coverage begins at 7pm
Nathan Heaney-Jack Flatley
BT Sport 1
Coverage begins at 7.45pm
March 26
Jose Zepeda-Neeraj Goyat
DAZN
Coverage begins at 12am
Jose Ramirez-Richard Commey
Sky Sports Action
Coverage begins at 2am
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