Turki Alalshikh clarifies Dana White boxing league plans as Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren learn fates
Turki Alalshikh says that his boxing league with Dana White will not aim to eliminate promoters and major sanctioning bodies from the sport. TKO Group Holdings, the American media conglomerate that owns UFC and WWE, recently signed a multi-year partnership to establish a boxing league with the financial backing of Saudi Arabia. Alalshikh’s TKO Boxing League with White will be separate to Riyadh SeasonGETTY UFC president White will lead the promotion alongside the Chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority Alalshikh and WWE president Nick Khan. In every interview White has given, he has suggested that the new venture will look to monopolise boxing as the UFC has done in MMA. He’s even suggested that they will look to phase out the four-belt model (WBC, WBA, IBF and WBA) in years to come. While this might be the case for TKO, which aims to have its own separate belt and rankings, Alalshikh insists that Riyadh Season will continue to work with promoters like Eddie Hearn‘s Matchroom Boxing and Frank Warren‘s Queenberry Promotions, as well as the major sanctioning bodies, as long as it is in their best interests. “Last week, we announced the TKO Boxing League with Dana White,” Alalshikh said during an X Space on Friday night. “We are focusing on this league to give the opportunity for the fighters and to make something that the fans like. “We have a lot of ideas that I will keep until the right time for Dana to announce. “This league is not against anyone; it is not against the commission, not against the promoters. This is my opinion. “This is a project, and there will be space in the market. We will still see the four belts, the commissions and the promoters. “The market is huge, and no one can delete anyone from this market. Promoters like Hearn and Warren will still have the opportunity to work with Saudi ArabiaRiyadh Season “I understand the panic in the market because there are a lot of companies, and there are a lot of promoters. “What I want to say is, we care about the fans and the fighters, and we will support the fans and the fighters, and we will continue to do the big fights for the people. “The relationship between Riyadh Season, Ring Magazine and the promoters will continue at least for the next one or two years. “This depends on their reactions and about the options they will give us. If it is good for us, we will do it. “In this situation, I like what Matchroom and Eddie Hearn are doing. “Eddie is still discussing with me and my team about making the big fights around the world. Alalshikh isn’t planning to phase out the four major belts eitherEsther Lin/PBC “He has decided to continue to work with us, and we will continue to do business with him. “Also, we have had a lot of discussions with Golden Boy to have some of their fighters on different cards. “Me and my team are always happy to work with the promoters in boxing if they give us good options.” Alalshikh went on to add that the Ring Magazine belt will not be used in the TKO league while he expressed his desire to see Teofimo Lopez fight Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis and announced that Naoya Inoue will be fighting in Riyadh in December. Follow talkBOXING on social media talkBOXING is now on Twitter and Facebook. Follow us on social media for big breaking boxing news, exclusive interviews and the best bits from our talkBOXING YouTube show. Like our Facebook page HERE Follow us on Twitter HERE Sign up for our WhatsApp channel HERE
Turki Alalshikh says that his boxing league with Dana White will not aim to eliminate promoters and major sanctioning bodies from the sport.
TKO Group Holdings, the American media conglomerate that owns UFC and WWE, recently signed a multi-year partnership to establish a boxing league with the financial backing of Saudi Arabia.
UFC president White will lead the promotion alongside the Chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority Alalshikh and WWE president Nick Khan.
In every interview White has given, he has suggested that the new venture will look to monopolise boxing as the UFC has done in MMA.
He’s even suggested that they will look to phase out the four-belt model (WBC, WBA, IBF and WBA) in years to come.
While this might be the case for TKO, which aims to have its own separate belt and rankings, Alalshikh insists that Riyadh Season will continue to work with promoters like Eddie Hearn‘s Matchroom Boxing and Frank Warren‘s Queenberry Promotions, as well as the major sanctioning bodies, as long as it is in their best interests.
“Last week, we announced the TKO Boxing League with Dana White,” Alalshikh said during an X Space on Friday night.
“We are focusing on this league to give the opportunity for the fighters and to make something that the fans like.
“We have a lot of ideas that I will keep until the right time for Dana to announce.
“This league is not against anyone; it is not against the commission, not against the promoters. This is my opinion.
“This is a project, and there will be space in the market. We will still see the four belts, the commissions and the promoters.
“The market is huge, and no one can delete anyone from this market.
“I understand the panic in the market because there are a lot of companies, and there are a lot of promoters.
“What I want to say is, we care about the fans and the fighters, and we will support the fans and the fighters, and we will continue to do the big fights for the people.
“The relationship between Riyadh Season, Ring Magazine and the promoters will continue at least for the next one or two years.
“This depends on their reactions and about the options they will give us. If it is good for us, we will do it.
“In this situation, I like what Matchroom and Eddie Hearn are doing.
“Eddie is still discussing with me and my team about making the big fights around the world.
“He has decided to continue to work with us, and we will continue to do business with him.
“Also, we have had a lot of discussions with Golden Boy to have some of their fighters on different cards.
“Me and my team are always happy to work with the promoters in boxing if they give us good options.”
Alalshikh went on to add that the Ring Magazine belt will not be used in the TKO league while he expressed his desire to see Teofimo Lopez fight Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis and announced that Naoya Inoue will be fighting in Riyadh in December.
