Following the success of ‘King’ Callum Walsh’s function on UFC Struggle Go, CEO Dana White has teased that he may quickly be making a long-awaited transfer into the world of boxing promotion.
While there are these inside the fight sports activities world who’re vehemently towards Dana White coming into the business, particularly in partnership with Turki Alalshikh, there are additionally some monumental names who’re begging the UFC CEO to get entangled.
Corridor of Famer Teddy Atlas begs Dana White to hitch Turki Alalshikh in boxing
When Chairman of the Normal Leisure Authority Turki Alalshikh first barged his approach into the boxing scene, there was vital backlash to what many followers deemed to be ‘sportswashing’ from the Saudi Arabian authorities.
But right here and now in September 2024, Alalshikh is being hailed as the person accountable for the ‘saving’ of boxing – having helped negotiate (due to deep, deep pockets) a slew of unimaginable fights that many thought had been nearly unimaginable to place collectively.
Lots of those self same sentiments are actually being echoed relating to Dana White, with Corridor of Famer Teddy Atlas popping out to basically beg the UFC CEO to associate with Alalshikh to be able to make the fights that the game wants: “I’d say come on in, come on in – we’d like you!
“Turki Alalshikh has helped boxing tremendously by making fights that the promoters couldn’t make or didn’t need to make as a result of they didn’t personal each side, they didn’t management each side; they don’t need to go throughout the road to share.
“The followers suffered and didn’t get the fights that they wished, the game suffered, the game was getting much less and fewer related… This sport shouldn’t be irrelevant, however it was changing into it as a result of the promotors with their networks [and] with their sugar daddies, they had been simply making fights to maintain their guys undefeated.”
Atlas, who coached the likes of Mike Tyson, Barry McGuigan and Alexander Povetkin, defined how the core challenge with boxing ‘pre-Turki’ was that promoters would principally look to make the most important “non-competitive fights” that they might.
“Each on occasion, they’d throw you a bone, however it wasn’t sufficient, the followers had been ravenous after which Turki Alalshikh got here alongside from Saudi with the cash and he’s made fights that the game wants.”
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Consequently, Atlas believes {that a} partnership between Alalshikh and Dana White may end in a brand new period for boxing the place the very best lastly battle the very best frequently.
“Dana White does that; he’s been doing that eternally over on the UFC. I do know it’s one man in cost and other people name him a dictator, but when a dictator ain’t chopping heads off and he’s getting issues accomplished, typically possibly you can study a bit of one thing.
“Perhaps if the 2 of them be a part of collectively and if Dana White brings his mannequin to boxing to have the infrastructure, to have the foundations, the enforcement of guidelines to have the form of fights that individuals need, Teddy would say ‘Hey Dana, come on on this approach.’”
UFC CEO Dana White teases he could possibly be set to enter the boxing business
Throughout a reside Q&A with followers earlier than Callum Walsh’s homecoming bout, which was broadcast reside on UFC Struggle Go on Friday night, Dana White would commit to his long-awaited boxing venture.
“There can be some large bulletins quickly,” said White on his future involvement in boxing, noting how after quite a lot of years pondering the transfer, his thoughts is lastly made up.
“I by no means say something that I don’t do, ever – I’ve by no means mentioned something like that, and we’ve been kicking the entire boxing factor round for a very long time, however you’ve by no means heard me commit and say ‘I’m in’… Properly, I’m in.”
With boxing in a greater place than it has been for years, may there be room for Dana White and Turki Alalshikh to develop into the faces of the sports activities promotion?
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