UFC CEO Dana White was asked about potential crossover boxing fights after announcing his latest promotional venture.
Dana White‘s busy life just got busier after it was announced that the UFC headman will team up with Turki Alalshikh for a new boxing league.
The TKO group and Ring Magazine will promote a new boxing league, which is expected to launch later this year. Details about the collaboration, including a broadcasting deal and other specifics, are expected to be announced incrementally in the lead-up to the league’s inaugural event.
Fight fans rejoiced as one of the greatest combat sports promoters ever got into the boxing business. White’s latest promotional venture comes years in the making, and many speculated if top stars like UFC champion Alex Pereira and heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk would ever fight.
- READ MORE: Dana White provides a crucial update on Jon Jones’ future in the UFC
Dana White answers Oleksandr Usyk’s recent crossover fight tease against Alex Pereira
During a recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, White was asked about Pereira vs. Usyk and other crossover boxing matches coming to fruition.
“No, never,” White said. “I’m sure there are guys that want to box, but I literally don’t want to see any of that. We’ll keep the boxers in boxing, and the MMA guys in MMA.”
White’s comments come just weeks after Usyk included a ‘show fight’ with Pereira for his boxing roadmap. Pereira has expressed profound interest in making a boxing debut against a top name, similar to Francis Ngannou‘s move into the ring.
UFC fighters are prohibited from signing off for boxing matches while they’re contracted with the promotion. It’s a significant reason for Ngannou’s split from the UFC to pursue fights with the likes of Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
- READ MORE: Alex Pereira vs Tom Aspinall talks are ‘very likely’ to start soon according to a UFC legend
Dana White was a lead promoter of Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr.
While White’s move into boxing brings a lot of excitement, his above remarks squash speculation over another Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather-like fight coming to fruition. White was a lead promoter of McGregor vs. Mayweather, tabbed ‘The Money Fight’ amidst McGregor’s two-division UFC championship reign.
McGregor put on a valiant effort against Mayweather but lost by late-round TKO to the undefeated great. McGregor has since teased a return to boxing against names like Logan Paul and Manny Pacquiao.
White’s stance on crossovers is similar to initial speculation after the UFC and WWE merged under the same umbrella via the TKO group. While UFC fighters have participated in WWE events in minimal roles, there haven’t been any fighters allowed to go headfirst into the world of professional wrestling while under contract.
- READ MORE: Miesha Tate rallied to choke Holly Holm unconscious and win the bantamweight title
English