Dana White and Saudi Partner Launch New Boxing League to Reshape the Sport

The initiative aims to simplify boxing's structure, unify titles, and challenge existing power dynamics in the industry.

Dana White, UFC president, and Saudi Arabian General Entertainment Authority Chairman Turki Alalshikh have partnered to create a new boxing league under TKO Holdings, set to launch in 2026.
The league plans to eliminate the multiple sanctioning bodies and belts in favor of a unified championship system, streamlining weight classes and crowning one champion per division.
The project has drawn both support and skepticism, with some praising its potential to improve boxing's structure while others, including Eddie Hearn and Oscar De La Hoya, question its feasibility and impact on tradition.
Critics have raised concerns about the league's compliance with the Muhammad Ali Act, which mandates transparency and regulates promoter practices, as White has expressed disinterest in working with existing sanctioning bodies.
Prominent figures, including Canelo Alvarez, have shown interest in the league, though questions remain about fighter pay and how the new system will compete with established promotions.