The World Boxing Council has delivered a pointed welcome message to Dana White’s newly revived Zuffa Boxing venture, emphasizing the sport’s established regulatory framework and protections that distinguish it from mixed martial arts.
WBC President Mauricio Sulaimán issued a statement addressing White’s recent announcement of his boxing promotion plans, highlighting the fundamental differences between boxing’s regulated environment and the MMA landscape that White has dominated for decades.
“Welcome to boxing…. A sport like no other, with standards and protections that MMA fighters and fans can surely benefit from,” Sulaimán declared. “The WBC wishes Zuffa success in our sport, which is the greatest one in the world.”
The WBC’s response comes as White outlined his ambitious vision for Zuffa Boxing in a recent interview with Ring Magazine’s Max Kellerman, where he detailed plans to revolutionize the sport’s promotional structure and create what he believes will be more competitive matchmaking.
Central to the WBC’s message is boxing’s regulatory oversight, particularly in the United States where White’s operation will be based. Sulaimán emphasized that “boxing operations fall under federal law known as the Muhammad Ali Act and all promoters must abide by the law, unlike MMA where a company can operate without such strict federal guidelines and regulations.”
This regulatory framework, according to the WBC, serves as a crucial distinction that protects athletes’ interests. “Boxing regulators exist to also protect boxers and make sure that no conflicts of interest get in the way of justice and fairness,” Sulaimán noted.
White’s approach to Zuffa Boxing includes a controversial decision to recognize only Ring Magazine champions while dismissing established sanctioning bodies. “There will be a Zuffa belt and then there will be a Ring belt, and yes, I will not recognize any of the other sanctioning bodies,” White stated during his interview.
The UFC CEO expressed confidence in his timeline for transformation, telling Kellerman: “I mean, two years. You’ll start to notice a big difference in two years. And one of the things, without sound arrogant, if you look back throughout the last 25 years of me being in the UFC, everything I have said I would do I have done.”
However, the WBC’s statement touched on boxing’s existing competitive marketplace, which Sulaimán argued already provides the protections and opportunities that White seeks to create. “Boxing is an open competition market for boxers to choose from the best options available, and therefore, boxing has eradicated exploitation and abuse of power,” he declared.
The sanctioning body highlighted boxing’s extensive global infrastructure, pointing to major promotional companies and the sport’s Olympic pathway as evidence of its established success.
“Boxing has managers and advisors who negotiate the best conditions for their fighters, and that is how all boxers who step into the ring has their best interests protected,” Sulaimán explained.
White’s criticism of existing promoters was direct, claiming that established figures in the sport lack vision. “These guys have been doing what they’ve been doing for a hundred years, none of them have any vision, none of them ever think big time or we wouldn’t even be having this conversation if any of those guys were ever a threat,” he said.
The WBC president’s response emphasized boxing’s current golden era, citing superstars like Terence Crawford, Canelo Alvarez, and Oleksandr Usyk as evidence of the sport’s vitality. He also highlighted the growth of women’s boxing with champions such as Clarissa Shields and Katie Taylor leading the charge.
“A boxer is a dignified human being, not merchandise to be used to enrich just a few,” Sulaimán stated. “Boxers put their lives at stake in the ring, deserve the best care and protection, and must be respected, supported and appreciated.”
White is currently preparing to implement his vision with backing from Turki Alalshikh and Paramount/CBS.
