Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing initiative Threatens the Future of Undisputed Championships
LAS VEGAS – Dana White’s planned foray into professional boxing with a new “Zuffa Belt” poses an existential threat to the customary concept of an undisputed champion, perhaps ending the possibility of a fighter simultaneously holding the WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO titles. The initiative, backed by Saudi Arabia’s Turki Alalshikh, aims to establish a rival boxing ecosystem that bypasses established sanctioning bodies.
A three-weight undisputed champion may represent one of the last fighters to achieve the feat under the current system. White’s model, if prosperous, would create a parallel championship structure where fighters competing for the Zuffa belt would not be required to challenge the current holders of the four major sanctioning body titles.
Consequently,any future four-belt champion would be viewed as incomplete,lacking a victory over the Zuffa-crowned ruler. This effectively consigns the era of universally recognized undisputed champions to history.
The move aligns with Alalshikh’s efforts to elevate the profile of The Ring magazine championship,positioning it as a central element within Zuffa’s boxing framework. White’s refusal to acknowledge the legitimacy of the WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO sanctioning bodies lends further momentum to Alalshikh’s ambitions.
The success of the Zuffa Boxing venture hinges on White’s ability to attract top-tier fighters. Securing commitments from even a portion of The Ring’s top ten ranked boxers would validate the plan to circumvent the established sanctioning bodies. Alalshikh’s recent recruitment of boxing “ambassadors” for Riyadh Season may provide a pool of potential recruits for White’s breakaway league.
However, a significant obstacle remains: fighter compensation. While elite boxers currently earn purses representing 40-50% or more of event revenue, the UFC’s fighter revenue share is reportedly closer to 15-20%. The decision for boxers will not solely be about the prestige of a belt, but whether they are willing to trade a high-risk, high-reward pay structure for a more centralized, but potentially less lucrative, system.
Should White fail to attract sufficient fighter participation, the Zuffa belt risks becoming irrelevant within the two-year timeframe he has indicated.Conversely, success would permanently eliminate the possibility of a truly undisputed champion in professional boxing.
For boxing fans and historians, the undisputed crown has long been considered the sport’s most prestigious achievement. Dana White’s model directly challenges this tradition, threatening to bury it indefinitely.
About the Author
Phil Jay is a veteran boxing journalist with over 15 years of experience covering the global fight scene. As Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News since 2010, Jay has interviewed dozens of world champions and reported ringside on boxing’s biggest nights. View all articles by Phil Jay and learn more about his work in combat sports journalism.
