UFC boss Dana White is gearing up to make a grand entrance into the world of boxing with Zuffa Boxing promotion. However, this entry will also see some major changes to boxing as a sport, changes which International Boxing Hall of Famer Roy Jones Jr. believes are not just unsettling but straight-up catastrophic.
Talking to MMA Knockout, Jones Jr. expressed his concerns about White’s entry into boxing, citing fears about the potential of over-commercialization of the sport.
“So, it’s very bad for the sport of boxing, because they’re trying to turn boxing kind of into MMA, and that’s not good. Boxing has too much history. Boxing came with those belts before they got here,” said Jones Jr.
One of the main points of contention is the UFC honcho’s plan to try to make changes to the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act, which protects fighters from exploitation. Moreover, the changes proposed by White and the other involved parties would allow Zuffa Boxing to dictate its own titles and rankings. These, in turn, would be considered as alternatives to the traditional sanctioning bodies, a move that is regarded as borderline sacrilegious by many boxing aficionados, including Jones Jr.
Dana White (L) with Turki Alalshikh (R)
In fact, he believes that by taking away the long-established sanctioning bodies from boxing, White and his partners are effectively killing a major part of its history.
“And a lot of people, like myself, are not going to be happy with that. So, I don’t like it, no,” he said. “I don’t think he’ll be a positive. If he found out a way to work with the sanctioning bodies and do everything else, he’d be positive because he’s done it with the UFC. So he’ll be a positive.”
“Boxing Is Just Different”
Jones Jr. isn’t the only one who has doubts about White’s plans for boxing. In fact, UFC superstar Dana Cormier also voiced his issues with White’s ideas, especially his decision to introduce the boxing version of the Contender Series.
“That, to me, sounds like he wants to change more. Because most boxers, especially the good ones; they don’t start seeing real competition until 18, 19, 20-0. Dana’s now saying, ‘I want these guys to fight each other and I want them to do it much sooner,’” he said while talking to Chael Sonnen. “I don’t know if you can apply that to boxing. Boxing is just different.”
Joshua Ben Joseph is a Boxing writer renowned for his unparalleled coverage of live events and insightful interviews with prominent athletes in the world of combat sports. With a career spanning over several years, he has authored more than 800 articles. As an experienced editorial cartoonist and investigative journalist, Joshua has a keen eye for detail and a passion for delivering quality content. Aside from his writing, Joshua is an avid powerlifter and solo traveler, embodying the same spirit of determination and exploration that he brings to his work. With a deep love for the sport of boxing that dates back to childhood, he is committed to delivering the highest quality content and helping to build a more transparent and credible industry.
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