UFC boss Dana White reveals details on new boxing league including change of weight classes and world title belts

DANA WHITE has shed some light on the structure of TKO’s boxing league.

The UFC and WWE’s parent company officially announced the launch of its Saudi and Ring Magazine-backed promotion earlier this month.

Two men at a table preparing to sign a document. — The TKO Group announced the launch of its Saudi-backed boxing league this monthCredit: INSTAGRAM@DANAWHITE

Four men sitting at a table signing documents; logos for The Ring, TKO, and Sela are visible on the wall behind them. — Turki Alalshikh has enlisted the services of UFC boss Dana White to run the leagueCredit: INSTAGRAM@TURKIALALSHIKH

Dana White smiling. — White has shed some light on the format of TKO BoxingCredit: AP

Saudi boxing supremo Turki Alalshikh has enlisted the services of White to implement the UFC model, which he hopes in time will “crush” rival promotions.

The league’s format quickly became a talking point following the official announcement, which sparked questions over boxing’s established sanctioning bodies.

And White has revealed the promotion won’t be playing ball with the likes of the IBF and WBC, aiming to have “one belt” per weight class.

The 55-year-old recently told ESPN: “It’s all going to go away. There’s going to be one belt.

“It’ll be like the UFC. The model is the model that we have [in UFC]. [The] WBC, IBF, WBA, etc., etc.

“They will deal with those traditional promoters that are out there that exist right now. We’re not going to do that.”

It will likely take several years for TKO Boxing to start signing the big hitters in the sport, many of whom are tied up in promotional deals with the likes of Matchroom and Queensberry Promotions.

Additionally, the esteem in which the IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO titles are held in by fighters could also slow down TKO’s bid to get the top talent in the sport.

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Oleksandr Usyk celebrates his victory, holding championship belts and a Ukrainian flag. — TKO Boxing won’t have anything to do with boxing’s traditional sanctioning bodiesCredit: AFP

But White believes the sanctioning bodies will eventually become obsolete given the allure of the Ring Magazine title.

He continued: “We’re going to have the basic weight classes that started everything. We will have one champion.

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“And you know how you’re going to know who the champion is because they’re going to fight their way up through the gauntlet.

“And once you get into the top five, you know who the five baddest dudes in the heavyweight division are.

“And then you’ll find out who the champion is. They will defend their titles and that’s how it’ll work.”

The launch date for TKO Boxing is currently unknown, although Alalshikh – the Chairman of Saudi Arabia‘s General Entertainment Authority – has hinted that the September showdown between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford could be the promotion’s inaugural show.

During an appearance on ESPN, he said: “Ask [Dana] when the first event will be held in September. Ask him to answer… Maybe it’ll be September 12th.”

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