TKO Group Holdings — mother or father firm to UFC and WWE — are diving into the deep finish in the case of the game of boxing.
A three way partnership funded by Saudi Arabia, with TKO executives akin to Dana White and Nick Khan working the present, is predicted to launch in early 2026, however the first actual take a look at for the partnership comes Sept. 13 with the boxing match between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford. Whereas plans to get entangled in boxing are nonetheless comparatively new to the corporate, TKO executives already contemplate the brand new promotion a “fourth main sports activities asset” along with UFC, WWE and Skilled Bull Riders.
“We expect boxing’s a gorgeous development alternative for TKO,” TKO president and chief working officer Mark Shapiro mentioned throughout a quarterly monetary name with traders. “We imagine we’ll ship important long run worth for our shareholders and as I discussed, this unequivocally shall be a fourth tentpole sports activities asset for TKO. We’re going all in right here. Nothing like two gladiators going toe-to-toe because the starting of time, it by no means will get outdated. That’s why boxing has the endurance that it has. Curiosity is multi-generational, each within the U.S. and internationally.
“We’re enthusiastic about our new [joint venture], formally titled Zuffa Boxing, which we launched with Saudi based mostly Sela and introduced in early March. That is low threat and TKO receives a roughly $10 million price for serving because the managing associate and offering day-to-day operational administration oversight. That’s all margin for us. TKO has no funding obligation.”
The brand new boxing enterprise totally launches in 2026 with the expectation {that a} TV deal is already in place earlier than the primary punches are thrown.
Shapiro mentioned there was large curiosity from networks and streaming providers inquisitive about airing the brand new Zuffa Boxing occasions with hopes {that a} deal will get locked down quickly.
“We’ve had important curiosity from a number of home linear and [direct-to-consumer] platforms with reference to the media rights for our Zuffa Boxing promotion that can launch within the first quarter of subsequent 12 months,” Shapiro mentioned. “We’re within the house stretch of these negotiations and imagine could have one thing to announce quickly.”
Past the precise Zuffa Boxing occasions kicking off subsequent 12 months, Shapiro additionally doubled down on plans for a “superfight” sequence that facilities round greater marquee occasions just like the upcoming Canelo-Crawford combat occurring at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
That card is being broadcast on Netflix at no extra price for subscribers and is predicted to attract a large dwell viewers. Every little thing boxing associated for TKO earns the corporate extra money as a result of Saudi Arabia is finally funding the whole enterprise.
“We are going to look to ship two to 3 tremendous fights per 12 months, just like the Canelo-Crawford combat that Saudis in fact, Nick Khan and Dana White have helped us put collectively for September in Las Vegas,” Shapiro revealed. “Once more, no threat to us on that deal.
“We get a price to put it up for sale, every one in every of these tremendous fights. We get a price to barter the media rights for every combat, which IMG does so one other area we’re robust and pleased with. We introduced IMG into the fold of our flywheel. We get a price for OnLocation to promote hospitality packages and we’ll put Zuffa Boxing fighters on the undercard of every of those tremendous fights. We count on to internet on common one other $10 million for each tremendous combat we handle and promote.”
Along with Zuffa Boxing formally launching in 2026, TKO has been concerned in pushing by way of laws in Congress that might enable the brand new promotion to function in comparable vogue because the UFC.
The Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act was just lately launched in Congress with provisions for the inclusion of “unified boxing organizations,” which is the place Zuffa Boxing would exist if the invoice passes by way of and finally ends up on the desk of President Donald Trump to signal into regulation.
“The Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act was just lately launched in Congress,” UFC chief working officer Lawrence Epstein mentioned on the decision. “It has bipartisan assist by way of our co-sponsors Brian Jack of Georgia and Congressman Sharice Davids of Kansas. Sharice is definitely a former MMA athlete. I wish to be very clear that this new laws doesn’t intend to vary something within the present Muhammad Ali Boxing Act. Each single phrase will stay precisely the identical.
“What we’re proposing is including some extra language to this laws that can enable for what I’ll name UFC-style unified organizations for the promotion of boxing occasions. That is going to supply extra selection for athletes within the boxing house. We’re very optimistic that this laws will transfer comparatively shortly, first by way of the Home of Representatives after which in fact the Senate and change into regulation. We’re hopeful within the comparatively close to future.”
If the brand new regulation passes earlier than the tip of the 12 months, that successfully paves the best way for Zuffa Boxing to launch with UFC-style promotion when the group formally kicks off in 2026.
