Dana White could also be able to lastly soar headfirst into the world {of professional} boxing, however his enterprise daddy feels it essential to pump the brakes till the proper alternative comes alongside.
After years of teasing his entry into yet one more fight sport, White introduced that he was lastly prepared to drag the set off throughout a Q&A session earlier than Callum Walsh’s boxing match towards Przemyslaw Runowski in Dulin.
“If you understand something about me and also you return and have a look at something that I’ve ever mentioned, I by no means say something that I don’t do — ever,” White mentioned. “I’ve by no means mentioned (one thing I don’t do), and we’ve been kicking the entire boxing factor round for a very long time. You’ve by no means heard me commit and say, ‘I’m in.’ I’m in.”
White’s feedback earned widespread reward from folks throughout the business, together with legendary pugilist ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson and Matchroom Sports activities promoter Eddie Hearn.
Nonetheless, White’s boxing desires could not come true for fairly a while in keeping with Mark Shapiro — the President of Endeavor and Chief Working Officer of the UFC’s mother or father firm, TKO Group Holdings.
“Initially, some off the cuff feedback from Dana White don’t translate into a method that we’re speaking to the road,” Shapiro mentioned throughout a quarterly earnings name on Wednesday. “Dana says a whole lot of issues and has a whole lot of passions and that’s why we love him. He’s additionally the most effective promoter the game of MMA and albeit if it was boxing has or will ever see.
“What I can inform you is boxing at its greatest is confused and fragmented. At its worst, it’s damaged. We predict the game presents an attention-grabbing progress alternative for us. Dana White, and I ought to point out [WWE president] Nick Khan, have deep experience and longstanding relationships in what they name the candy science, in any other case referred to as boxing. If we have been to get entangled in boxing, we’d count on to take action in an natural approach, not [mergers and acquisitions] approach. So i.e. we’re not writing a verify. If we launched the vertical at any time, we form of see it as doing it with a accomplice that might fund it and pay us to function” (h/t MMA Combating).
TKO Group in no rush to leap into the boxing ring with Dana White
Maybe their stance will change sooner or later, however for now, it feels like TKO Group is prepared to play the wait-and-see sport with boxing. Till then, the corporate will proceed to give attention to its MMA and sports activities leisure endeavors with the UFC and World Wrestling Leisure.
“Nothing to announce immediately however that is one space we’re going to proceed to discover,” Shapiro mentioned. “We’ve talked a couple of dearth of leagues which can be on the market. Clearly, we’re buying [Professional Bull Riders], there’s not a lot else. We don’t essentially want so as to add something to our mannequin however boxing is ripe for a repair.
“We’re blessed to have two consultants within the subject and if a chance presents itself or we will chase one down that doesn’t put a lot danger or any danger for that matter on us financially, then we’re going to pursue it. When it comes to fashions and leagues and the way we’d construction it, and so forth, and so forth, that’s approach down the street. As soon as we’ve one thing — if we’ve one thing — you’ll be the primary to know.”
