Dana White & Turki Al-Sheikh
Dana White’s Boxing League Pay Structure
UFC CEO Dana White is officially stepping into the boxing world with TKO Boxing, a new promotion backed by Saudi Arabia Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority – Turki Al-Sheikh. White has long expressed his dissatisfaction with the state of boxing and is determined to shake things up with a fresh approach, including a unique ranking system and pay structure.
According to BoxingScene’s Lance Pugmire, TKO Boxing will feature a tiered payout model designed to reward fighters as they climb the ranks:
- Unranked fighters competing in a 10-round bout: $20,000
- Ranked No. 5 to No. 10 in the promotion: $50,000
- Ranked No. 3 or No. 4: $125,000
- Title challenger: $375,000
- Champion defending the title: $750,000
The highest guaranteed payout in the system is $750,000, while the lowest is $20,000. While this may seem modest compared to the multi-million-dollar paydays of boxing’s biggest stars, TKO Boxing is expected to focus on developing younger and mid-tier talent. It is unknown if the fighters will make “unofficial” money the same way as in the UFC.
Photo | MMA Junkie
Can Dana White “Fix” Boxing?
For years, White has been vocal about what he sees as the flaws in modern boxing, from disorganized matchmaking to financial disparities. With TKO Boxing, he believes he has the solution.
“I don’t do anything for the money,” White told The Associated Press. “I want to be in business with people who share the same vision and values as me. We’re going to create something new, something that actually works.”
Though no official signings or event dates have been announced yet, White has ambitious plans for TKO Boxing. Much like the UFC, he envisions the promotion expanding worldwide.
“I’m going to take this thing everywhere,” he said. “The U.S., Mexico, Canada, Brazil, Australia, the UK—you name it. Boxing can’t thrive without the U.S., but we’re going to build something that works globally.”
With a clear vision and major financial backing, TKO Boxing could be the biggest shake-up the sport has seen in years. Whether it will truly “fix” boxing, as White claims, remains to be seen.
