Rising boxing star Ryan Garcia has shared his perspective on UFC President Dana White’s upcoming venture into boxing promotion alongside Saudi chief Turki Alalshikh.
While expressing support for White’s entry into the sport, Garcia highlighted potential concerns about compensation, drawing comparisons to the UFC’s payment structure.
“Yeah, I mean, if they pay like the UFC, we might not like it, but I’m happy. You know, Dana is getting involved, he’s a great dude, and I’m sure they’re going to do big things,” Garcia told Schmo in an interview.
The new boxing league, announced by White and Alalshikh, aims to streamline the sport with fewer weight classes and potentially one championship belt per division. The venture, known as TKO boxing league, has already outlined plans for four major events in the next two years, with expectations that Canelo Alvarez versus Terence Crawford could headline the inaugural show.
Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn offered an optimistic outlook on the development: “I think it is amazing news to be honest with you. If you are comfortable with your business and you believe in your ability, then I think it is brilliant.”
However, Hearn challenged the notion that boxing needs fixing: “The one thing I disagree with His Excellency and Dana White over is that boxing is not broken. Boxing is in the best place it has ever been in.”
White has effectively dominated mixed martial arts through the UFC, producing stars like Conor McGregor and Jon Jones. However, the UFC’s compensation model has faced criticism from athletes, including former heavyweight Francis Ngannou, with boxing traditionally offering higher purses for premium events.
With Alalshikh’s financial backing, the new promotion could potentially reshape the boxing landscape, though Garcia’s comments reflect broader athlete concerns about maintaining competitive compensation in the sport.
