Dana White could also be able to lastly leap headfirst into the world {of professional} boxing, however his enterprise daddy feels it essential to pump the brakes till the precise alternative comes alongside.
After years of teasing his entry into one more fight sport, White introduced that he was lastly prepared to tug the set off throughout a Q&A session earlier than Callum Walsh’s boxing match towards Przemyslaw Runowski in Dulin.
“If you realize something about me and also you return and take a look at something that I’ve ever stated, I by no means say something that I don’t do — ever,” White stated. “I’ve by no means stated (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 trade, together with legendary pugilist ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson and Matchroom Sports activities promoter Eddie Hearn.
Nevertheless, White’s boxing goals might not come true for fairly a while in response to Mark Shapiro — the President of Endeavor and Chief Working Officer of the UFC’s dad or mum firm, TKO Group Holdings.
“To begin with, some off the cuff feedback from Dana White don’t translate into a method that we’re speaking to the road,” Shapiro stated throughout a quarterly earnings name on Wednesday. “Dana says a variety of issues and has a variety of passions and that’s why we love him. He’s additionally the very best 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 often called 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 test. If we launched the vertical at any time, we sort of see it as doing it with a accomplice that may fund it and pay us to function” (h/t MMA Preventing).
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 appears like TKO Group is keen to play the wait-and-see recreation with boxing. Till then, the corporate will proceed to deal with its MMA and sports activities leisure endeavors with the UFC and World Wrestling Leisure.
“Nothing to announce as we speak however that is one space we’re going to proceed to discover,” Shapiro stated. “We’ve talked a few 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 area and if a chance presents itself or we are able to 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. By way of fashions and leagues and the way we’d construction it, and many others, and many others, that’s approach down the highway. As soon as now we have one thing — if now we have one thing — you’ll be the primary to know.”
