Dana White Clashes with Boxing Establishment Ahead of Historic Debut
UFC president Dana White has launched a fiery rebuttal against accusations of 'bullying' from World Boxing Council (WBC) president Mauricio Sulaiman, as White prepares to make his highly anticipated foray into professional boxing this Friday night. The debut event for Zuffa Boxing—a new promotion led by White, Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh, and WWE president Nick Khan—will take place in Las Vegas, marking a significant moment in combat sports history.
A Contentious Entry into the Boxing World
Since announcing the formation of Zuffa Boxing last year, White and his partners have faced scrutiny and criticism from traditional boxing figures. The promotion has expressed intentions to operate independently of the four major sanctioning bodies—the WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO—and is advocating for the Muhammad Ali Revival Act to be passed through Congress. This legislation would enable Zuffa Boxing to establish its own world titles and rankings, a move that has sparked controversy within the sport.
In a recent statement, White declared, "I'm going to get rid of the sanctioning organisations," which prompted Sulaiman to voice his concerns publicly. Sulaiman told Boxing Social, "Well, it's very unfortunate that Dana White and all of his team have taken this route to try to come in and bully and be so aggressive. There is no need for aggressiveness." He added that while he wishes Zuffa Boxing success, he believes their approach is "contrary to the benefit of the boxing general state."
White's Forceful Response on Social Media
White did not take Sulaiman's comments lightly, responding swiftly via Instagram. He wrote, "I'm not saying I'm taking over anything. The Ali Act will be intact, not one word will be changed. Fighters can still fight under that. The WBC, WBA and IBF will still exist and fighters can fight for those titles. I'm just doing something different. Who am I bullying? I have barely even done any interviews about it." White emphasised that other promoters like Oscar De La Hoya, Eddie Hearn, Frank Warren, and Top Rank will continue their operations unaffected.
Sulaiman, however, remains critical, citing examples like fighter Callum Walsh, who headlines Zuffa Boxing's first event. Walsh has proudly displayed his WBC continental Americas belt and dreams of becoming a WBC world champion. Sulaiman argued that Zuffa Boxing's model undermines such aspirations, comparing it to minor leagues in American football that attempt to challenge the NFL. He stated, "TKO and Zuffa. They are a minor league. I wish them well. I hope they give work to boxers, but the way they have presented it, it's completely against the benefit of the boxer."
Zuffa Boxing's Inaugural Event and Future Plans
The debut show on Friday night will feature a main event between Callum Walsh and veteran Carlos Ocampo. According to the Nevada Commission, TKO—the parent company of Zuffa Boxing—has scheduled additional boxing events in Las Vegas for January 30 and February 14. The third event is expected to headline a clash between Charles Martin and Efe Ajagba, with Martin coming off a knockout victory in November 2024 and Ajagba returning from a majority draw last May.
In a significant coup, Zuffa Boxing recently signed lineal and IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia on a co-promotional deal. Opetaia expressed excitement, saying, "(I'm) signed with Zuffa Boxing now. I'm pumped for the future. Exciting times, man. Let's get these big fights over the line—unification and undisputed, too. Let's go." His manager, Mick Francis, clarified that Opetaia can still pursue title unifications, stating, "They will let Jai fight for the titles and unify the division, which is exactly what he wants to do. His personal brand will blow up and go through the roof."
As the boxing world watches closely, White's venture promises to shake up the sport, blending elements from MMA and entertainment. Whether Zuffa Boxing will succeed as a disruptive force or face continued resistance from established bodies remains to be seen, but its debut this weekend is set to be a landmark event in combat sports.
