Saudi/TKO to launch new league for up and coming boxers

[garethhop]

Significant.

https://www.sportspro.com/news/tko-saud ... uary-2025/

[Ruthless-RKO]

Finally Dana’s dream coming through

[joshj909]

Finally Dana’s dream coming through

He's only been banging on about it for 10-15 years. The structure of this seems fairly similar to Dana Whites Contender series which tries to spot more undiscovered talent.

That aside, I'm all for building up the careers for those who don't have good promoters, an amateur history or may have a couple of losses on their record already. There's a lot of money at the top but not enough at the bottom.

[keithmoonhangover]

Anything that doesn't mean 6-0 vs 3-87-2 is alright with me.

[SeanBrennan]

we will lose the sport to this Saudi takeover, he has bought part of Dazn and will soon own it all and it will become a pugilistic cheerleader for a feudal blood regime. It is the death knell of the sport.

[maverick23]

Significant.

https://www.sportspro.com/news/tko-saud ... uary-2025/

Thanks.

The devil will be in the detail on this. Do they just bypass all the other boxing promoters like Frank and Eddie? I can’t really envision how it will work so will be interesting to see.

[Ruthless-RKO]

we will lose the sport to this Saudi takeover, he has bought part of Dazn and will soon own it all and it will become a pugilistic cheerleader for a feudal blood regime. It is the death knell of the sport.

I read the article last night briefly,

Did it mention turiki?

I know he’s in charge of sports in Riyadh.

[Cask]

we will lose the sport to this Saudi takeover, he has bought part of Dazn and will soon own it all and it will become a pugilistic cheerleader for a feudal blood regime. It is the death knell of the sport.

Yep, Sportswashing with oil money mission almost complete

[dookus]

Will be interesting to see how well this new mob actually know boxing. As Mayweather Sr put it, most people don't know shìt about boxing, and distinguishing a good up and comer from a dud is the job of an expert.

[Cask]

Will be interesting to see how well this new mob actually know boxing. As Mayweather Sr put it, most people don't know shìt about boxing, and distinguishing a good up and comer from a dud is the job of an expert.

It won't be that hard when they can literally pay anyone any amount of oil money

[SeanBrennan]

Apologies for late log on and responses, just finished work so having half hour on here before bed, I genuinely makes me sad about this, the 'media' are nearly almost uniformly either inhouse PR or blatant cheerleaders for this. Our last saviour was an Irish narco-terrorist and the latest is part of a regime that stones homosexuals, suppresses most basic human rights and has as much commitment to social good as Shipman had to elderly care. I never blame the boxers but all the other apparatchiks around it are scumbags.

[SeanBrennan]

Will be interesting to see how well this new mob actually know boxing. As Mayweather Sr put it, most people don't know shìt about boxing, and distinguishing a good up and comer from a dud is the job of an expert.

It won't be that hard when they can literally pay anyone any amount of oil money

Sadly very true

[Ruthless-RKO]

done deal!

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

[johninmanchester]

it will become a pugilistic cheerleader for a feudal blood regime. It is the death knell of the sport.

A sad and ignominious fate for the glorious and honorable Televised Concussions Industry :/

[Frostieballs]

Eddie and Frank must be spitting feathers…

[Jimmy2025]

Fascinating. Boxing was always going to go full corporate one day. This is a genuine landscape changing moment.

ALL the major power players of the sport are now extremeley vulnerable. Turki has tested the water with FW, Eddie et al and now it looks like he's going to let them drown. I suppose Dana might let FW stand on stage at the weigh-ins like Chuck Zito or Sean Sherk.

His excellency has bent them over

Please no Joe Rogan, though. He is hopeless.

.

[Ruthless-RKO]

The Ring join forces with TKO and Sela

A partnership between The Ring, TKO and Sela has been announced.

Earlier in March it was confirmed that The Ring will be overseeing a promotion on May 2 in New York’s Times Square on which Ryan Garcia-Rolando Romero, Devin Haney-Jose Carlos Ramirez and Teofimo Lopez-Arnold Barboza Jnr will take place.

They have swiftly followed that announcement by confirming a collaboration with a one company that also owns the Ultimate Fighting Championship and World Wrestling Entertainment, and another involved in entertainment and hospitality in Saudi Arabia.

Turki Alalshikh of the General Entertainment Authority, the organization that has invested in The Ring, Riyadh Season-branded boxing promotions, UFC promotions and overseen WWE dates within Saudi Arabia, said: "This landmark partnership between industry powerhouses sets the stage for an unparalleled experience for boxers and fans.

"Together, we are developing the next generation of talent and delivering world-class events at a time when the sport is primed for further disruption."

The Ring has reported: "TKO will serve as managing partner, providing day-to-day operational expertise, management, and oversight of the promotion, with executive leadership anchored by UFC president and CEO Dana White and WWE president and TKO board member Nick Khan."

Rumors in boxing circles persist that TKO will promote the fight date that is being prepared for later in 2025 between Saul "Canelo" Alvarez and Terence Crawford, which they plan to broadcast on Netflix, and to host at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

White has long discussed his move into big-time boxing and in 2024confirmed to BS, “I’m in.”

Netflix showed the biggest event of 2024 when they broadcast the show that featured Katie Taylor-Amanda Serrano II on a bill topped by Mike Tyson-Jake Paul.

[Jimmy2025]

Just done some back of the fag packet sums. The UFC has 578 contracted fighters with an average salary of approximately £150k (median £70k) for a total fighter wage bill (excluding bonuses) in the region of £90million. Jon Jones - the GOAT - was paid £5.6 million in 2024 and was comfortably the highest paid individual by quite some margin.

No wonder Turki is licking his lips. How much has he shelled out to Fury and Usyk alone over the course of the last 12 months?

All figures sourced using Google and could well be inaccurate.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

They’re targeting prospects and those starting their careers.

I can’t see any established boxers signing up.

I mean PBC tried this. Although they still used the orgs, I believe the plan was to have their own world title in weight classes.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Turki owns Ring.

I assumed he would use their rankings.

[Jimmy2025]

Dana's dream is coming true. He will make this work for himself and his bosses. I am not into American chest beating hyper-mania but lots are.

Only the old school promoters and ponces will feel the pain. The next generation of top fighters will be paid far less than previous generations but they'll still fight and won't know any different. Most will have shorter careers and not hang around like a bad smell.

Should be good for the small hall and amateur scene if MMA is anything to go by.

The established boxers are mostly clinging on anyway. Dana/TKO will not be doing this unless their champion is THE champion.