BoxRec

Announced: Johnny Fisher has signed with Zuffa Boxing.

He headlines Zuffa Boxing 11 on September 26th at the Copper Box Arena, London.

Jake Paul calls out Dana White over Zuffa Boxing’s sanctioning shift

Jake Paul has called out Dana White over his softened stance on boxing’s traditional organizations.

Ahead of Zuffa Boxing's launch in 2025, White repeatedly stated that the promotion had no interest in doing business with the WBA, WBC, IBF or WBO. However, following Zuffa Boxing 9, the promotion’s founder acknowledged that they would work with the aforementioned organizations depending on the circumstances, prompting a reaction from Paul on social media.

Jake Paul criticizes Dana White’s changing stance on WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO partnerships

When asked about working with the major sanctioning bodies at the recent Zuffa Boxing presser, White claimed that he’s willing to do so for certain boxers.

“On a case-by-case basis, trying to figure out what the fighters want and what their goals are, we will try to figure out whatever we can do to make those fights happen,” the Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO said.

This drew an immediate response from Paul, who highlighted the apparent shift in White's position.

“They went from shi*ting on all of the boxing sanctioning bodies and how they need to get rid of them for the good of boxing to now this,” Paul wrote on X. “Truth is we need to further align promoters and the sanctioning bodies to create the biggest opportunities for boxers. That should be the goal. More transparency, more collaboration and more big fights.”

The change comes as Zuffa Boxing continues to expand its roster with signings such as Jai Opetaia, Conor Benn and Shakur Stevenson, while also co-promoting the welterweight title bout between Ryan Garcia and Benn on Sept. 19 in Las Vegas.

They went from shitting on all of the boxing sanctioning bodies and how they need to get rid of them for the good of boxing to now this.

Truth is we need to further align promoters and the sanctioning bodies to create the biggest opportunities for boxers. That should be the… https://t.co/Ln1joFYqBx

— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) July 27, 2026

Kayla Allen: Decorated British amateur becomes first female fighter to sign with Zuffa Boxing ahead of September pro debut

Kayla Allen will make her professional debut live on Sky Sports on September 26, on the undercard of ZUFFA BOXING 11, headlined by British heavyweight star Johnny Fisher

Decorated British amateur Kayla Allen will make her professional debut in London in September after becoming the first female fighter to sign with Zuffa Boxing.

The 21-year-old Londoner will campaign as a lightweight and make her first professional appearance on September 26, live on Sky Sports, at the Copper Box Arena on the undercard of ZUFFA BOXING 11, headlined by heavyweight star Johnny Fisher.

Allen's deal with Zuffa Boxing marks the latest step in a remarkable rise to a boxing career that began when she first put on a pair of gloves less than five years ago.

"I'm delighted to have signed with Zuffa Boxing as their first female athlete," Allen said.

"I feel honoured to be in this position. With the backing of Zuffa and Sky Sports, I can become a big star on both sides of the Atlantic.

"I appreciate my team for believing in me and securing this landmark deal. I'll be bringing the heat in the ring, and my fans will bring the noise on September 26."

Allen's ascent to becoming one of Britain's most accomplished young amateurs started when she set up a heavy bag in her garden and began learning the craft by watching videos of Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Mike Tyson.

After a short stint on the white-collar circuit, Allen joined GB Boxing and reached the Senior Elite finals in her first year as an amateur.

She captured gold at many of Europe's most prestigious tournaments, including the 2024 Haringey Box Cup and the 2025 Senior Elite Championships.

Allen concluded her amateur career with triumphs at the 2025 European U23 Championships and 2026 Boxam Tournament in La Nucia, Spain. She will begin her professional career under the guidance of long-time trainer Alex Leo.

Watch Kayla Allen's professional debut on the undercard of Johnny Fisher's next fight at London's Copper Box Arena, on Saturday September 26, live on Sky Sports.

Glass Joe wrote: ↑23 Jul 2026, 15:47

Think he is spot on there,

And on a side note - good to see him looking well and sounding coherent.

LUCAS ROEHRIG SIGNS ZUFFA DEAL, SET FOR NOV. 7 SLOT

Undefeated cruiserweight prospect Lucas Roehrig has penned a long-term agreement with Zuffa Boxing.

Roehrig (9-0, 5 KOs), who is managed and trained by former WBA super middleweight world champion George Groves, has not put a foot wrong since turning professional in December 2024.

The 23-year-old former basketball player has operated largely as a free agent so far and has already boxed on shows promoted by Boxxer, Neilson Boxing and MF Pro among others.

It has now been confirmed that Roehrig and Groves have decided to align themselves with Zuffa Boxing, meaning he will now box on Sky Sports in the UK.

He will make his promotional debut with the company as part of their November 7 card at London’s Copper Box Arena, which is expected to be headlined by fellow cruiserweight Chris Billam-Smith.

Bournemouth’s former world champion "CBS" is just one of a number of 200-pounders already on the Zuffa roster, which includes the likes of Ring champion Jai Opetaia and all-action Ryan Rozicki. Now Roehrig will be hoping to position himself for a crack at one of the division’s bigger names during his time at Zuffa.

“I’m really excited, this is a new chapter for me,” said Roehrig told Sky Sports. "Zuffa have come onto the scene and made a big splash, and for where I'm at in my career right now, that's exactly what I want to do too.

"I've been through the levels. I've boxed on Sky shows and on other channels, but I've also boxed on the small hall shows – I haven't skipped a step.

"I think now is the perfect platform, the perfect time to fight other prospects - Zuffa have a lot of other undefeated fighters – for me to really make some noise not just in the UK but internationally too."

ZACH PARKER TO ZUFFA BOXING

Zach Parker will make his Zuffa debut against Umar Dzambekov on the Nov. 7 Chris Billam-Smith-Cheavon Clarke card.

Lucas Roehrig fights Connal McDonald and Sam Hickey and Da’Mazion Vanhouter return to action in 8 round fights.

Announced: Denzel Bentley has signed a multi-fight deal with Zuffa Boxing, and will fight Shane Mosley Jr on November 7th in London on the undercard of Zuffa Boxing 12.

Bentley was ordered to face mandatory challenger Yoenli Hernandez next, but he has petitioned the WBO to allow him to make a voluntary defense of his WBO middleweight title against Mosley Jr.

Announced: WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames has signed with Zuffa Boxing.

Bruno Surace signs with Zuffa Boxing

Surace is known for his two bouts with Jaime Munguia

French super middleweight Bruno Surace has signed with Zuffa Boxing. The 28-year-old Marseille native is known for his two bouts with Jaime Munguia.

- Surace (26-1-2, 5 KOs) pulled off an upset in late 2024 in Tijuana, where he knocked out Mexico’s Munguia (46-2, 35 KOs) in the sixth round.
- In their rematch last May on the Canelo vs Scull undercard in Riyadh, Munguia took revenge by unanimous decision.

The promotion made the announcement this past weekend, following the signing of current WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames (25-1-1, 18 KOs) of the Dominican Republic.

Information on Surace’s fight under the Zuffa Boxing banner is expected to follow shortly.

Zak Chelli to fight on Sky Sports: From classroom to the ring - the supply teacher ready for Zuffa Boxing bow

Fulham fighter Zak Chelli has signed with Zuffa Boxing and will fight on Sky Sports; Chelli is coming off a tremendous upset win when he knocked out David Morrell; Chelli is a former British, Commonwealth and English champion looking to fight his way into world class

Zak Chelli has signed with Zuffa Boxing and will fight on Sky Sports.

Chelli, the fighting schoolteacher from Fulham, has signed a multi-fight contract with the company.

The Londoner is coming off the best win of his career when he produced a stunning knockout to shock David Morrell and catch the attention of the boxing world.

Cuba's Morrell is a top class light-heavyweight who previously held WBA regular titles at 168lbs and 175lbs. He went the distance in a competitive fight with the outstanding David Benavidez in a WBC Interim championship clash too.

Chelli is now looking to force his way to the top of the division. His Zuffa Boxing debut will be announced shortly.

A former British champion, Chelli defeated Jack Cullen to win the Lonsdale belt and the Commonwealth title.

Chelli has previously been an English titlist at super-middleweight, beating Germaine Brown back in 2022 to win that belt. He also upset the highly-touted American Anthony Sims Jr.

Defeated by Callum Simpson in their headline event at the Oakwell stadium in Barnsley, he bounced back to knock out Adam Hepple and win the English light-heavyweight title.

He joins Zuffa Boxing's vibrant light-heavyweight stable that includes Radivoje "Hot Rod" Kalajdzic, Joe Ward and more.

"I'm grateful for this opportunity. Zuffa is looking for fighters that they believe in, and I'm proud to be in that category," Chelli said.

"I'm thrilled that my fights will once again be shown on Sky Sports. I've fought on Sky many times, and they've always treated me well.

"I want to make the fights that the fans want to see. I'm ready to fight anyone, anytime, anywhere. I've proven that throughout my career."

Chelli, who works as a supply teacher at a secondary school in Surrey, stunned the boxing world with his Rocky-like KO for the ages.

He accepted the fight with the heavily favoured Morrell on two weeks' notice and then authored one of the biggest upsets in modern boxing history, overcoming an early deficit to knock out two-division titlist David Morrell in the 10th round.