WBC Questions Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing Plans

WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman has responded to Dana White’s Plans to only recognize the Ring Magazine and Zuffa Belt, as part of Zuffa Boxing. 

The core of White’s plan is to emulate his successful UFC Contender Series model, focusing on developing top prospects under a simplified “Zuffa belt” system. 

“There will be a Zuffa belt, and there will be a Ring belt. And, yes, I will not recognize any of the other sanctioning bodies. Yeah, based on the UFC model. I hear a lot of people talking about, ‘It’ll never work.’ Well, we’ll find out in the next couple of years,” White said 

Sulaiman, however, stood firm in his defense of the current WBA, WBC, WBO, and IBF sanctioning bodies, emphasizing their necessity to ensure the health and safety of fighters. Sulaiman also said that boxing’s global appeal means it is much bigger than having one centralized authority to govern the sport. 

Sulaiman Reacts

“Boxing is regulated worldwide by national federations and state boxing commissions, all with boxers’ safety as the top priority. Unlike MMA, boxing operates under federal law — specifically, the Muhammad Ali Act — and all promoters are required to abide by it. That law exists to protect fighters, eliminate conflicts of interest, and ensure fairness.

“A boxer is a dignified human being, not merchandise to be used to enrich just a few. Boxers put their lives at stake in the ring, deserve the best care and protection, and must be respected, supported, and appreciated,” Sulaiman stated 

Implications

The Ali Act prohibits a promoter from owning or controlling a sanctioning body. If a “Zuffa belt” were the only recognized title, the promoter (TKO/Zuffa) would control the rankings, the championship, and the purse split, a situation that fits Sulaiman’s warning.

Despite his valid points, the system of four major belts (WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO) has led to a confusing landscape of “super champions,” “interim champions,” and multiple titleholders in one weight class. This fragmentation is the very reason that the biggest fights, such as the long-delayed Terence Crawford vs. Errol Spence Jr. bout, take years to finalize.

Furthermore, the existing bodies have repeatedly shown inconsistencies in enforcing safety (e.g., inconsistent drug testing and controversial scorecards), which contradicts “fairness.” The sport of boxing has plenty to think about moving forward.