Implications for Zuffa Boxing Sanctioning Intentions

By Bryanna Fissori 

Dana White has been teasing fans and fighters with the possibility of Zuffa Boxing becoming boxing’s latest promotional phenomenon. 

Multiple press conferences and interviews have confirmed that the promotion will be hosted under the UFC umbrella with a similar format, which is heavily based on promoting and building the personalities of fighters through widespread marketing.  Unlike most current boxing promotions which base the vast majority of marketing on only the main event, the UFC is known to have cards that have a significant draw starting at the undercard. 

Zuffa Boxing Scouts Talent

Though nothing has been confirmed, there have been solid rumors that WBO champion Mikey Garcia is on Zuffa’s list of boxers they would like to sign. Anthony Joshua is also at the top of that list. Many other boxers and current UFC fighters have also shown interest in the promotion. 

In an interview several months ago, White stated that he would not be moving his MMA fighters to over boxing. That being said, White also previously stated that women would never be in the UFC. The reality will likely depend on whatever makes the most financial sense. 

New Boxing Sanctioning

One of the potential hiccups for Zuffa Boxing is that they have a number of limitations on current boxing enterprises that they will work with. White has been vocal about his distaste for Golden Boy Promotions, Top Rand and Showtime. Just a few days ago, White also confirmed that Zuffa Boxing would not work with any of the current boxing sanctioning bodies. These include the WBA, WBC, IBF, IBO and WBO. 

Over the years there has been continual talk of belt unification since there are so many different sanctioning bodies. Zuffa Boxing is uninterested in that conversation and intends to create a separate league. This is not a big surprise. The UFC has found a great amount of success in promoting their champions as superior to those of other organizations. 

Ali Act Implications

The Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act is a major part of deciding what can and cannot happen on the business end of boxing. Having both a promotion and a sanctioning body may prove difficult under the rules of the Ali Act. The Ali Act does not explicitly deny a promotion the ability to also host a sanctioning body. But there is an approval process through the ABC and Federal Trade Commission that has to be completed before the sanctioning body can receive compensation. There are also tight restrictions on contracts and ancillary rights agreements that differ from the UFC’s current protocol. 

There is a currently a movement amongst MMA fighters to extend the Ali Act to encompass all combat sports participants. The UFC has opposed the movement. 

What’s Next for Zuffa Boxing?

It has been nearly 10 months since Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather Jr. stood toe to toe in the ring. Rumors of Zuffa Boxing began before the first bell rang. Since then, fighters and fans have been waiting to see what is next. Unlike a small regional promotion, Zuffa Boxing will have a lot more legwork to do before hosting their own boxing card. This is especially true if they plan to create their own sanctioning body and fresh set of fighters contracted to the organization. Until then, we continue to wait and see.