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Dana White Shuts Down Speculation About His New Boxing League

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Prince Horton | Last updated Mar 6, 2025 4:31 PM ET

Dana White and Turki Alalshikh are about to shake up boxing like never before. With the UFC boss and the Saudi sports powerhouse teaming up, the newly announced boxing league promises to scrap the alphabet soup of belts and politics in favor of a streamlined, one-belt, one-champion model—something that has made the UFC so dominant in MMA. For decades, boxing has suffered from fragmented championships, promotional disputes, and champions who rarely unify titles. This new league aims to cut through that chaos and restore the sport’s credibility by establishing a singular, undisputed champion in each division. If successful, this model could reinvigorate boxing’s popularity and bring clarity to fans who have long been frustrated with the sport’s title system.

Naturally, fans are buzzing with questions. Will we see UFC stars cross over for superfights? Could the likes of Jon Jones or Israel Adesanya throw hands in a boxing ring under this new system? Dana White shut that speculation down fast when speaking on The Pat McAfee Show:

"No, never. I’m sure there are guys who want to box, but I literally don’t want to see any of that."

That’s as blunt as it gets. White has long been critical of crossover fights, despite the massive payday Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather generated. While individual exceptions like that might still pop up, it’s clear Dana has no interest in blurring the lines between his new boxing project and the UFC roster.

With this new league, boxing may finally escape the mess of multiple governing bodies and disputed titles. If it works, it could be the biggest shift in the sport since the days of Don King.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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