UFC AND WWE BOSSES TO HOST BOXING LEAGUE IN SAUDI ARABIA

TKO Group Holdings, which owns the UFC and WWE, says it is “close to an agreement” to form a new boxing league funded by Saudi Arabia.

It has been reported Saudi Arabian investors are keen to form a league after investing significantly to regularly host heavyweight fights including Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk in the kingdom.

The UFC and WWE hold events in Saudi, as do boxing promoters Matchroom and Queensberry, and TKO president and chief operating officer Mark Shapiro told investors on Wednesday about the possible boxing deal.

“We are close to an agreement with the Saudis on a creation of a boxing league where TKO would be the producer, the promoter and responsible for all day-to-day operations of the venture, whereby we would receive a fee of $10m (£7.8m) plus,” Shapiro said.

“We’re not putting any money in, we’re not putting any capital in, we’re not on the hook for any [costs].” It is unclear what the league would look like and who would compete in it, with most of boxing’s biggest stars under contract with key promoters such as Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom, Bob Arum’s Top Rank and Frank Warren’s Queensberry.

How would the boxing league benefit the sport?

A boxing league can benefit the sport in several key ways:

1. Structured Competition: A league provides a more consistent and structured platform for boxers to compete in. It ensures that fighters of similar skill levels and weight classes face off regularly, which can increase the overall level of competition and improve the quality of matches.

2. Increased Exposure: A league can create a regular schedule of events, which helps to build a fan base and provide more media coverage. This exposure can attract new fans and sponsors, which is vital for the growth of the sport.

3. Talent Development: Boxing leagues can serve as a pipeline for emerging talent, offering a competitive stage where young boxers can gain experience and prove themselves. This encourages the development of talent at the grassroots level.

4. Better Financial Incentives: With a league, boxers can benefit from a more organized system for earning money through sponsorships, ticket sales, and broadcasting rights. Fighters may also have more opportunities for prize money based on their performance.

5. Fair Rankings and Title Opportunities: A league helps establish a clear ranking system, reducing confusion about who the top contenders are. It offers a more transparent path to title fights, making it fairer for all fighters in terms of earning championship opportunities.

Conclusion

Boxing has been criticized for many years for its corruption and bias towards particular fighters, that a single boxing league similar to UFC and One Championship would help prevent that.