Zuffa Boxing Expands Roster
Zuffa Boxing unveiled a roster of nearly 100 fighters, signaling significant expansion and competition in the promotional landscape. The announcement comes as promoter Eddie Hearn criticized Conor Benn's $15M one-fight deal with Zuffa as "disloyal" while defending the Ali Act for fighter control.
- The name "Zuffa" is a revival of Zuffa, LLC, the company brothers Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta, along with Dana White, used to purchase the UFC for $2 million in 2001. They transformed it into a global sports powerhouse before selling it for $4 billion in 2016. - This new iteration of Zuffa Boxing is a joint venture between TKO Group Holdings (the parent company of UFC and WWE) and Sela, a Saudi Arabian entertainment company. Key figures include UFC CEO Dana White and Turki Al-Sheikh, Chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority. - The promotion aims to apply the UFC's centralized business model to what Dana White has described as a "broken" boxing landscape. This includes more consistent, year-round event scheduling and building a distinct brand ecosystem rather than working with multiple different promoters. - Zuffa Boxing has secured a multi-year, exclusive media rights deal with Paramount+, with plans to air 12 events in its first year. This deal provides a significant broadcast platform for the new venture in the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. - Beyond prospects, the promotion has made several high-profile signings, including IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia and, most notably, welterweight contender Conor Benn. A TKO executive clarified that Benn's deal is for a single "super fight" funded by their Saudi partners, Sela, not from the main Zuffa Boxing operational budget. - The reference to the Ali Act stems from Zuffa's support for a controversial new bill, the "Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act." Critics argue this proposed legislation would grant Zuffa exemptions from existing federal protections, allowing them to act as both promoter and sanctioning body, similar to the UFC's structure. - Zuffa Boxing's inaugural event took place on January 23, 2026, at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card was headlined by a super welterweight bout where Irish prospect Callum Walsh won a unanimous decision against veteran Carlos Ocampo. - British promoter Frank Warren is reportedly preparing a potential $1 billion lawsuit against Zuffa Boxing's partners, Sela and TKO Group Holdings. The claim alleges that they breached an existing exclusive agreement with Warren's Queensberry Promotions to form the new boxing league.
