Dana White has been behind the helm of the UFC as the promotion rose to the top of mixed martial arts, and now the president is looking at a step into boxing within the next couple of years.
While boxing remains one of the most popular sports in the world, and one of the most prestigious combat sports disciplines, it has not been lacking in the criticism that has come its way.
From its decentralized business model, to the politics among boxers and promoters and the heavy dependence on sanctioning bodies and the presence of fragmented championship titles- Dana White is not sure that he can repair the sport of boxing itself, but would rather work towards making it more appealing to everyone.
“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,” White, who founded Zuffa Boxing in 2017, said in a recent interview with Sports Business Journal.
“I’m not doing anything any time soon [in boxing],” he went on, “never did I say that I was doing anything, but I’ve been looking and kicking the tires of boxing for the last couple of years. The reason you’ve never seen me do anything is because that’s how screwed up and broken it is. That’s what a mess it is.”
“Is it shocking?” Dana White on Fury vs. Usyk negotiations retracting
In the past week, Dana White also commented on the negotiations of the proposed undisputed heavyweight championship fight between WBC champ Tyson Fury and WBO, WBA, IBF, and IBO titlist Oleksandr Usyk falling apart.
“It’s scheduled, no?” White stated, “Oh, it’s not? Welcome to boxing, boys. Is it shocking? Yes. Is it ‘shocking’? No. It’s just that is boxing, that’s the way that that sport always seems to play out, the big fights that should happen never happen.”
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