Dana White Is Looking To Fix Boxing, And Boy Oh Boy, Does It Need This After Years Of Politics And Irrelevance

Boxing is in dire need, but luckily for us, we have Dana White.

UFC CEO and President Dana White laid out a clear vision for how he plans to disrupt the current boxing industry and fix issues in the sport such as poor business practices, alleged protective matchmaking and a lack of top-tier fights in a March 5 interview on “Piers Morgan Uncensored.”

THE PROBLEMS PLAGUING BOXING

One of the issues that White pointed out is promoters suing their own fighters, with the UFC head honcho throwing criticism at how rosters get treated. Specifically, White called out Golden Boy Promotions CEO and boxing legend Oscar de la Hoya for slapping his own fighters with lawsuits, stating, “you know you’re running a bad business when you’re suing your people to stay with you.”

White also addressed the issue of fighters allegedly dodging tough bouts, arguing that modern boxing is filled with undefeated fighters who “aren’t fighting anybody.”

When asked about boxing purists feeling alienated by “entertainment bouts” (like Jake Paul or older legends fighting for massive paydays), White agreed that this diminishes the sport’s purity. He noted that he wants no part of that model.

DANA WHITE’S SOLUTION: ZUFFA BOXING

White explained that when he built the UFC into a multi-billion dollar juggernaut, he “took everything that I loved about boxing and everything that I hated about boxing in building this business.”

He is now bringing that exact same proven philosophy to the sport of boxing.

White’s ultimate promise to fix boxing’s popularity is to ensure that the absolute best fighters face off against each other every single weekend, rather than ducking each other. He noted that in just his first few Zuffa Boxing shows, he has already made undefeated boxers actually fight stiff competition. (RELATED: UFC 326: Cody Garbrandt Vomits Following Kick To Groin, Charges At Xiao Long In Fury And Gets Kicked Again)

Rather than just throwing money at established, aging stars, White is focused on signing the best up-and-coming talent that he believes can be true world champions, aiming to rebuild the sport’s foundation.

Highlighting his matchmaking philosophy, White promoted the recent Zuffa Cruiserweight Championship bout between Jai Opetaia (30-0) and Brandon Glanton (21-4). He pointed out that both fighters had an 80%+ knockout ratio, guaranteeing the exact type of high-stakes, action-packed fights that fans are currently missing. Opetaia went on to win the fight to remain undefeated.

Dana White is using his new Zuffa Boxing promotion to strip away the protective, promoter-centric politics of modern boxing and replace it with the UFC’s formula: forcing the best fighters in the world to actually fight each other to find out who is truly the champion.

And I, for one, have my popcorn ready.