Dana White declares war on traditional boxing in an interview. Photo: Reproduction/X
Dana White has once again made headlines outside of MMA. In an interview with journalist Stephen A. Smith, the UFC president stated that he intends to eliminate traditional boxing regulatory bodies such as the WBC, WBA, and similar organizations, in order to launch a new project called 'Zuffa Boxing' under the 'TKO' umbrella. According to him, the idea is to completely reshape the sport's model and centralize control over the fights.
During the conversation, Dana was direct in explaining his motivation. “I’ve been talking about boxing for a long time, and now is the time to put my money where my mouth is. I’m going to get rid of the sanctioning organizations: the best will fight the best. We’re going to hire young talent. Lots of young talent,” stated the UFC president, making clear his dissatisfaction with the current system of titles and rankings in professional boxing.
Dana White says he will get rid of boxing sanctioning bodies (WBC, WBA etc.) for Zuffa Boxing
"I'm gonna get rid of the sanctioning organizations, the best will fight the best. We're gonna sign all the young, up and coming guys."
via @stephenasmith
— Dovy🔌 (@DovySimuMMA) January 10, 2026
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White also revealed how he intends to structure the new organization's calendar. When questioned by Stephen A. Smith about the frequency of events and broadcasting, Dana confirmed: "Yes, on Paramount Plus, and yes, every month." The proposal is to offer regular fights, in a format similar to what the UFC has established in MMA over the last few decades.
Signings and behind-the-scenes details of Dana White's Zuffa Boxing team.
Dana White at a UFC event. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram/UFC
While the UFC president keeps the UFC card details secret, the White HouseDana opens up about other business ventures he's involved in. Another point discussed regarding 'Zuffa Boxing' was the difficulty in signing big names who currently have ties to promoters like 'Top Rank' and 'PBC'.
For Dana White, this won't be a long-term obstacle. "All contracts end at some point. I need to go out and improve the product over the next few years. When these fighters' contracts end, they'll want to sign with us," he assured.
Finally, the UFC president confirmed that the project will not be an individual one. According to him, 'Zuffa Boxing' will be developed in partnership with Nick Khan and other executives linked to 'TKO'. “We’ve already done some pretty big things even before the first fight. We’re going to start making several announcements soon,” White concluded, indicating that news should be released in the coming months.
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