After dominating the world of MMA, Dana White is plotting to finally take his talents to boxing in a significant way.
The UFC CEO’s past love was boxing, and he has often times flirted with the concept of constructing a move to taking up the ring. He was heavily involved in one among the game’s biggest ever fights in 2017 when Conor McGregor faced Floyd Mayweather, and has since fallen out and in of the game.
But after getting involved with Irish prospect Callum Walsh and his promoter Tom Loeffler, White is now making a firm commitment to delve further into the game. That effort kicks off tomorrow night with a significant showcase on the 3Arena, with further announcements to follow.
Dana White commits to future boxing plans
During a Q&A with fans and media in Dublin today, Dana White noted how he expects to change into further involved with boxing. He has previously toyed with the concept of launching Zuffa Boxing, an offshoot of the UFC’s old parent company Zuffa LLC, and media credentials for this week’s events bore the brand name.
“There can be some big announcements soon,” White teased when asked about his future in the game, and more particularly constructing fighters in Ireland. “Let me let you know, if you happen to know anything about me and take a look at anything I ever said, I never say anything that I don’t do, ever.
“I’ve never said anything like that and we’ve been kicking the entire boxing thing around for a very long time, but you’ve never heard me commit and say ‘I’m in’. Well, I’m in.”
Asked what involvement Turki Alalsheikh, the renowned Saudi Arabian boxing supremo, would have in his future in the game, White remained coy. The pair worked together last weekend on UFC 306 at Sphere in Las Vegas, with Riyadh Season branding all around the event.
“I’m HBO,” he teased, noting that he is just not actually promoting fights similar to this weekend’s show in Dublin. “I suppose that’s the best way I’d take a look at it. He [Tom Loeffler] is the promoter, his matchmakers make the fights.
“Obviously bringing a fight to Ireland may be very expensive. It’s expensive to depart the country and do fights like this. So I’ll at all times determine a approach to pay for it, I suppose that’s one of the simplest ways I can describe it.”
Dana White inks rare cope with Frank Warren as he slams Bob Arum
During Callum Walsh’s skilled profession, White has assisted with the printed deals for the Irishman and his promoter Tom Loeffler of 360 Boxing. And as he makes his homecoming, they’ve pulled out the entire stops to get him seen by audiences worldwide.
The MMA supremo revealed an inventory of broadcasters worldwide that can carry the fight in addition to UFC Fight Pass. One which stood out was UK station TNT Sports, who otherwise have an exclusive broadcast cope with Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions.
“I used to be telling the fighters earlier once we did the fighter meeting but I desired to allow you to guys know too,” White explained, before reeling off an inventory of places to look at the event worldwide.
“It’s great to earn a living if you’re fighting however it’s also very necessary to do incredible things with plenty of people watching. This fight tomorrow night is widely distributed.
“This thing goes to be on Rogers Sportsnet in Canada, Fox Sports in Mexico, ESPN Latam in Brazil, Australia and Latest Zealand on ESPN, the entire Middle East and North Africa, Russia, Czech Republic, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Kazakhstan, Japan, India, China.
“And I actually have to provide a giant because of Frank and George Warren. They gave up their exclusivity on TNT Sports for this to air on TNT within the UK. The Warrens are absolute class acts for giving these platforms a possibility to fight on a platform like this.”
Dana White takes aim at ‘scumbag’ Bob Arum in explosive rant
It’s rare for a Dana White speech to incorporate such glowing praise for a possible rival promoter. But that good feeling didn’t last long as inside seconds he was blasting his long-time foe and Top Rank boss Bob Arum.
“The scumbag Bob Arum and his son Todd Duboef didn’t do the identical,” he continued, much to the delight of the Irish crowd. “So that they’re pieces of s***. I desired to thank the Warrens, you guys are classy and I actually appreciate it.”
It wasn’t the one time he would brand Arum in those terms, responding to a later query by noting that other promoters within the space needn’t worry. He name checked the likes of Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren as those whom he would really like to work with, before again laying into Arum.
“Those two guys definitely shouldn’t worry,” White assured a fan who asked in regards to the veteran promoters. “They’re two guys who I respect very much and I actually have great relationships with, this isn’t one among those [situations].
“You might have scumbags like Bob Arum and Todd Duboef from Top Rank, but there are plenty of good guys that I like doing business with within the business. Bob Arum and Todd Duboef, I don’t.”
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