‘I’m in’… UFC CEO Dana White commits to boxing venture as he takes aim at rival Bob Arum and secures rare deal with Frank Warren
After dominating the world of MMA, Dana White is plotting to finally take his talents to boxing in a major way.
The UFC CEO’s first love was boxing, and he has often times flirted with the idea of making a move to taking over the ring. He was heavily involved in one of the sport’s biggest ever fights in 2017 when Conor McGregor faced Floyd Mayweather, and has since fallen in and out of the sport.
But after getting involved with Irish prospect Callum Walsh and his promoter Tom Loeffler, White is now making a firm commitment to delve further into the sport. That effort kicks off tomorrow night with a major showcase at the 3Arena, with further announcements to follow.
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Dana White commits to future boxing plans
During a Q&A with fans and media in Dublin today, Dana White noted how he expects to become further involved with boxing. He has previously toyed with the idea of launching Zuffa Boxing, an offshoot of the UFC’s old parent company Zuffa LLC, and media credentials for this week’s events bore the brand name.
“There will be some big announcements soon,” White teased when asked about his future in the sport, and more particularly building fighters in Ireland. “Let me tell you, if you know anything about me and look at anything I ever said, I never say anything that I don’t do, ever.
“I’ve never said anything like that and we’ve been kicking the whole boxing thing around for a long time, but you’ve never heard me commit and say ‘I’m in’. Well, I’m in.”
Asked what involvement Turki Alalsheikh, the renowned Saudi Arabian boxing supremo, would have in his future in the sport, White remained coy. The pair worked together last weekend on UFC 306 at Sphere in Las Vegas, with Riyadh Season branding all over the event.
“I’m HBO,” he teased, noting that he is not actually promoting fights such as this weekend’s show in Dublin. “I guess that’s the way I would look at it. He [Tom Loeffler] is the promoter, his matchmakers make the fights.
“Obviously bringing a fight to Ireland is very expensive. It’s expensive to leave the country and do fights like this. So I’ll always figure out a way to pay for it, I guess that’s the best way I can describe it.”
Dana White inks rare deal with Frank Warren as he slams Bob Arum
For the duration of Callum Walsh’s professional career, White has assisted with the broadcast deals for the Irishman and his promoter Tom Loeffler of 360 Boxing. And as he makes his homecoming, they have pulled out all of the stops to get him seen by audiences worldwide.
The MMA supremo revealed a list of broadcasters worldwide that will carry the fight as well as UFC Fight Pass. One that stood out was UK station TNT Sports, who otherwise have an exclusive broadcast deal with Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions.
“I was telling the fighters earlier when we did the fighter meeting but I wanted to let you guys know too,” White explained, before reeling off a list of places to watch the event worldwide.
“It’s great to make money when you’re fighting but it’s also very important to do incredible things with lots of people watching. This fight tomorrow night is widely distributed.
“This thing is going to be on Rogers Sportsnet in Canada, Fox Sports in Mexico, ESPN Latam in Brazil, Australia and New Zealand on ESPN, all of the Middle East and North Africa, Russia, Czech Republic, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Kazakhstan, Japan, India, China.
“And I have to give a big thanks to Frank and George Warren. They gave up their exclusivity on TNT Sports for this to air on TNT in the UK. The Warrens are absolute class acts for giving these platforms an opportunity to fight on a platform like this.”
Dana White takes aim at ‘scumbag’ Bob Arum in explosive rant
It’s rare for a Dana White speech to include such glowing praise for a potential rival promoter. But that good feeling didn’t last long as within seconds he was blasting his long-time foe and Top Rank boss Bob Arum.
“The scumbag Bob Arum and his son Todd Duboef didn’t do the same,” he continued, much to the delight of the Irish crowd. “So they’re pieces of s***. I wanted to thank the Warrens, you guys are classy and I really appreciate it.”
It wasn’t the only time he would brand Arum in those terms, responding to a later question by noting that other promoters in the space need not worry. He name checked the likes of Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren as those whom he would like to work with, before again laying into Arum.
“Those two guys definitely shouldn’t worry,” White assured a fan who asked about the veteran promoters. “They’re two guys who I respect very much and I have great relationships with, this isn’t one of those [situations].
“You have scumbags like Bob Arum and Todd Duboef from Top Rank, but there are lots of good guys that I like doing business with in the business. Bob Arum and Todd Duboef, I do not.”
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