Dana White will make 'boxing great again,' Saudi official says after new promotion is announced

Dana White has stepped extracurricular the octagon and into the ring.

The president of UFC and WWE's Nick Khan, who unneurotic pb TKO Holdings, person agreed to bring a boxing promotion to Saudi Arabia.

TKO announced Wednesday it entered a multiyear concern with Turki Alalshikh, president of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority, and Sela, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.

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UFC CEO Dana White connected signifier during a UFC 300 quality league astatine MGM Grand Garden Arena April 11, 2024, successful Las Vegas.   (Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

"This is simply a strategical accidental to reimagine the athletics of boxing globally," TKO President and Chief Operating Officer Mark Shapiro said. "TKO has the heavy expertise, promotional prowess and longstanding relationships. 

"Turki Alalshikh and Sela stock our passionateness and imaginativeness for evolving the existent model. Together, we tin bring the saccharine subject backmost to its rightful spot successful the forefront of the planetary sports ecosystem."

Saudi Arabia General Entertainment Authority Chairman Turki Alalshikh added, "I americium precise blessed today. I springiness the emblem of boxing to the champion antheral who tin grip it. 

"We person a pugnacious occupation now. But I americium definite helium volition beryllium delivering to the radical and the fans the magnificent league and get boxing large again.

"This landmark concern betwixt manufacture powerhouses sets the signifier for an unparalleled acquisition for boxers and fans," Alalshikh continued. "Together, we are processing the adjacent procreation of endowment and delivering world-class events astatine a clip erstwhile the athletics is primed for further disruption."

UFC CEO Dana White connected signifier during a UFC 297 quality league astatine the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre Jan. 18, 2024, successful Toronto. (Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

"The exemplary is proven — to present the fights that the fans privation to see. The champion volition combat the best. And the fighters volition proceed to determination up the rankings and go satellite champions," White said.

Combat sports person been portion of the Saudis' sports spectacle. Tyson Fury defeated Francis Ngannou determination successful October 2023. WWE besides reached a woody with the Saudis to big events there, and the Royal Rumble volition beryllium held successful Riyadh successful 2026. LIV Golf is besides funded by the PIF, which besides hosts an F1 race.

Alalshikh purchased Ring Magazine successful November and volition signifier a May 2 boxing paper successful Times Square.

UFC President Dana White with Jan Blachowicz of Poland aft his divided gully determination against Magomed Ankalaev of Russia successful their UFC airy heavyweight title combat during UFC 282 astatine T-Mobile Arena Dec. 10, 2022, successful Las Vegas. (Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

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The fighters connected the paper are known: Ryan Garcia against Rolando "Rolly" Romero successful the main event; Devin Haney against Jose Ramirez successful the co-main; and Teofimo Lopez against Arnold Barboza Jr. successful a rubric combat arsenic the opener.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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