Latest news with #TKO
USA Today
4 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
TKO Boxing granted licenses for Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford; exec reveals 2026 plans
LAS VEGAS – TKO Boxing's inaugural event is official by regulatory standards. While TKO Boxing has for months expected to be the promoter for the upcoming Sept. 13 event headlined by Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford, the Nevada Athletic Commission made it official at a commission meeting Wednesday. While Dana White has long publicly expressed disinterest in stadium shows, his first time being the lead man of a boxing event will come in the 65,000-seat Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders. In conjunction with Saudi Arabia's Sela, White enters the boxing game with a massive show that's set to air on Netflix. UFC executive Marc Ratner attended Wednesday's meeting in person and thanked the commission for their approvals, indicating TKO intends to hold multiple events in the state in 2026. "We're thrilled to now be an official promoter," Ratner told MMA Junkie after the conclusion of the meeting. "... Our first event will be Sept. 13 with 'Bud' Crawford and Canelo, which is going to be the biggest fight in the history of the state of Nevada. Next year, we'll be doing a lot of fights here in a little smaller, obviously, basis. "... We're planning on 12 to 15 fights (in 2026) with the majority here in Las Vegas. These will be smaller fights, more like the Contender (Series). We're looking for people just in the beginning of their careers and building them up. So it'll be much smaller than that. This will be good for the boxers." It's unclear exactly what impact White and TKO's entry into boxing will have on the sport as a whole. However, the Nevada license comes the same day that a TKO-backed Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act was introduced by U.S. representatives Brian Jack (R-Ga.) and Sharice Davids (D-Kan.). The Ali Act entered into federal law in 2000 as an effort to protect boxers from exploitative practices. It does not apply to MMA fighters or other combat sports athletes. The major change being sought in the amendment is the allowance of Unified Boxing Organizations (UBOs), as opposed to the current sanctioning organizations. Should the UBO system be implemented, it would run parallel to the current system. The legislation would likely open the door for boxing promotions to follow a UFC-like model, with promotions granting their own titles and running their own events.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
TKO-Backed Muhammad Ali Bill Aims to Shake Up Boxing World
U.S. Reps. Brian Jack (R-Ga.) and Sharice Davids (D-Kan.) on Wednesday introduced the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act, a bill that would create alternative systems for boxers to seek guaranteed pay and obtain enhanced safety protections. The bill would establish what are described as 'alternative professional systems' for boxers. Central to this arrangement are 'Unified Boxing Organizations' (UBOs), a name for organizations intended to offer boxers new ways to pursue their profession. More from Offsides: The Two House Dems Who Make GOP's SCORE Act 'Bipartisan' 'WTF Is Happening': Gambling Reacts to Proposed Trump Tax Changes Jim Lampley's TV Boxing Journey May Never Be Repeated The bill follows advocacy efforts by TKO, the parent company of UFC and WWE, to stimulate interest in Congress for creating more and better professional opportunities for boxers in the U.S. As Sportico reported in March, TKO has joined hands with Sela, an entertainment subsidiary of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, and Turki Alalshikh, the chair of the kingdom's entertainment authority, to launch a new boxing promotion. The bill would add to the Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996, a federal statute that was amended in 2000 through the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act. This law set minimum nationwide safety standards and offered other benefits to pro boxers, such as requirements for medical personnel attending events. However, inconsistent enforcement mechanisms, ambiguities in the statutory language and other limitations have attracted the interest of reformers. 'When you look at boxing as a whole,' Jack said in a phone interview, the sport in America is 'dying.' He referenced HBO and Showtime dropping their boxing coverage in recent years, declines in pay-per-view buys of boxing events, and other developments that suggest boxing is struggling to maintain its footing with fans. Jack, who served as White House Political Director during President Donald Trump's first term and is one of five freshmen members of the House to chair a subcommittee, said professional boxing 'is the only pro sport that is regulated by Congress.' As a result, he said Congress has a particularly important role in shaping the sport and 'reviving' it. Jack and Davids, who is an attorney and former professional MMA fighter, have said these UBOs would supplement—not replace—current sanctioning organizations and run parallel to them. To that end, the World Boxing Council, the World Boxing Association, the World Boxing Organization and the International Boxing Federation would continue to oversee and schedule events as the major organizations for sanctioning pro boxing. UBOs would operate independently of those organizations and their events would be regulated by state athletic associations. The Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC)—which consists of state, provincial and tribal athletic commissions—endorses the bill. In a statement, ABC president Michael Mazzulli said his association's board of directors offers 'unanimous support' for the bill. He added that the bill will 'mitigate the exploitation of the debut fighter.' If it passes the House and Senate and is signed into law by Trump, the bill would increase the number of events for boxers and guarantee them $150 per round. While $150 might sound modest, some states guarantee lower amounts. In Pennsylvania, for example, a state statute expresses that, 'no purse less than $50 shall be paid by the promoter to any professional boxer for any contest or exhibition other than a training exhibition.' Other states, including Connecticut, Michigan and Alabama, use $100, while most states have no minimum at all. In his statement, Mazzulli drew attention to the value of a 'national minimum payment per round' standard. Insurance coverage is also part of the bill. Boxers would have a first-time national minimum of $25,000 of coverage for injuries sustained during a bout. That dollar figure is, according to the bill's sponsors, higher than the current minimum for boxers in 43 states. In addition to minimum pay and insurance benefits, the bill would provide for annual medical exams and enhanced testing, including MRIs. Meanwhile, higher minimums for the number of licensed physicians and ambulance units present at events would ensure boxers have immediate access to care. UBOs are intended mainly for new and developing boxers. More seasoned and well-known boxers, including those paid millions of dollars in fight purses, are less likely to be attracted to a new model. The bill would not force them to change their situation as they could continue to fight as they had been doing. Lonnie Ali, the widow of the late Muhammad Ali and co-founder of the Muhammad Ali Center, endorsed the bill in a statement. She said that boxing provided a 'pathway' for her late husband 'to become a global sports and cultural icon.' She also said that if he were alive today, he would be 'proud to have his name associated with this bill' since it calls for 'opportunities for other athletes to pursue their goals and dreams, just like he did.' Davids, who was first elected to Congress in 2018, said that as a former MMA fighter, she knows 'firsthand the physical and financial risks that come with stepping into the ring' and views the bill as ensuring boxers are 'treated fairly and safely.' TKO offered a statement to Sportico saying the organization reflects a 'bipartisan effort to bring innovation to the sport of boxing for the first time in 25 years' and that the organization supports 'the effort to restore boxing to its rightful place of prominence in America.' As the parent company of UFC, TKO has seen, first-hand, demands for greater athlete compensation. Last year, UFC and UFC fighters reached a $375 million settlement to resolve antitrust allegations brought in Cung Le et al. v. Zuffa. The plaintiffs accused UFC of suppressing economic competition, an allegation UFC disputed and a topic that remains at issue in another case, Kajan Johnson et al. v. Zuffa. As for the political prospects of the bill at a time when Republicans and Democrats are sharply divided, Jack mentioned the 1996 Act and the 2000 amendment passed both houses of Congress by unanimous consent. He's hoping his and Davids' bill has a similarly favorable trajectory. Best of College Athletes as Employees: Answering 25 Key Questions
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
UFC 320 adds Jiri Prochazka vs. Khalil Rountree
A key light heavyweight matchup has been booked for UFC 320. Former champion Jiri Prochazaka and former title challenger Khalil Rountree will collide in a three-round bout Oct. 4 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, the promotion announced Tuesday. Prochazka (31-5-1 MMA, 5-2 UFC) has lost only to Alex Pereira so far in the UFC. He's 2-1 in his most recent three with a Pereira loss bookended by TKO victories over Aleksandar Rakic and Jamahal Hill. Rountree (14-6 MMA, 10-6 UFC) returned in June to defeat Hill by unanimous decision. The bout was his first following a spirited title bid vs. Pereira. Though Rountree was finished with strikes in Round 4, his success, toughness, and heart was praised around the combat sports world. With the addition, the UFC 320 lineup includes:
Eater
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Eater
Minhwa Spirits Feels Like Your Cool Friend's House
Henna Bakshi is the Regional Editor, South at Eater and an award-winning food and wine journalist with a WSET (Wine and Spirits Education Trust) Level 3 degree. She oversees coverage in Atlanta, Miami, New Orleans, the Carolinas, and Nashville. Welcome to another installment of Scene Report in Atlanta, a new column in which Eater captures the vibe of a notable Atlanta restaurant at a specific moment in time. The soju distillery in a Doraville strip mall, is an unlikely hot spot, but when you make the OTP drive and enter the doors, you realize you're at your coolest friend's house party. Minhwa Spirits founders Ming Han Chung and James Kim are those friends. After opening Georgia's first soju distillery (soju is a Korean distilled alcohol fermented with rice) last year, they were smart to house more than just the spirit, which was widely unknown in the state. The space is home to Postern Coffee during the day, chef residencies in the kitchen, and a cocktail bar, invitingly introducing diners to soju and makgeolli. The atmosphere: Minhwa has two versions: an evening electric energy and a daytime chill mode. On a recent visit on a Saturday afternoon, the space was flooded with ample natural light from its floor-to-ceiling windows. Young people sat at tables on their laptops, the air smelled of freshly brewed coffee (try the coconut ube latte, $7), and a gentle hum of conversation and laughter came from the bar stools. An outdoor patio has several tables against a stunning mural called 'Morning Calm' by artist Kimchi Juice, depicting a Korean woman wading through mountains and peach trees — a nod to Georgia. On a Saturday evening, there was a line forming out the door. The space was buzzing with people. A table close to me was celebrating a birthday, and another seemed to be on a first date with shy, awkward body language and cocktails in hand. Andrew Bloom's kinetic art on the walls seemed to move in its liquid florals. People were relaxed, the service was attentive and friendly, and no one seemed to keep tabs on the parking meter — parking is free. From bottom to top: Cheesy kimchi fried rice, coconut ube latte, KFC nuggets, gilgeori toast, japchae, and volcano hot dog. Henna Bakshi The food: Minhwa Spirits has welcomed chef Lino Yi (formerly TKO at Southern Feed and Lazy Betty) to the kitchen since Ganji's departure, the excellent pop-up that popularized the purple rice bowl. Yi brings Korean comfort bar food to Minhwa. The cheesy kimchi fried rice ($12) is a treat any time of the day, the japchae ($15) with sweet potato starch noodles and mushrooms is an umami bomb, and the volcano hot dog ($6) is piled high with spicy krab, sriracha, eel sauce, and scallions. The food is delicious barfare, though the menu could use a punch of acid through a bright salad or pickles and kimchi. Pastry chef Molly Follet (Little Bear, Ticonderoga Club) makes the fluffiest butter cheesecake ($10) with a peach ginger jam that pairs perfectly with Postern's cortado using Ethiopian coffee. Insider tip on food: A spam and egg souffle gilgeori toast ($10) with cabbage, carrot, and spicy mayo is the current offering for brunch, and black sesame chicken and waffles with a spicy miso maple caramel will be added soon. Food pop-ups are hosted here often — look for Jay Patel's popular Indian-fusion barbecue tandoori sliders and wings from Dhaba BBQ. Mom's Backyard Garden made with soju, gin, cucumber and lime cordial, and perilla. Henna Bakshi The drinks: As one would hope, this distillery slings great cocktails. Minhwa has taken on one of Atlanta's top award-winning mixologists, James Sung (formerly Umi, Palo Santo), to whip up concoctions using the housemade soju and gin. The housemade Yong soju is earthy and light, and the gin is made in partnership with local tea company, the Chai Box, with Indian chai spices. Beaches Down in Georgia cocktail with hibiscus jelly at Minhwa Spirits. Lauren Lynn Sung infuses Korean ingredients with fat-wash and clarification techniques to create floral, fresh, and velvety-textured drinks. In one cocktail, aptly named Mom's Backyard Garden ($16), Sung uses his mother's perilla from her garden to garnish the drink made with soju, gin, and a cucumber and lime cordial. (Perilla leaves are commonly used in Korean cooking and have an herbaceous and peppery flavor.) It's refreshing, with a milky texture, punctured by bright green perilla — a visual stunner. The Beaches Down in Georgia ($16) is served with a cat face-shaped sour digestif gummy made from an extract from the Japanese raisin tree (hovenia dulcis thunb). It is commonly found in alcohol digesting supplements. I couldn't tell you if it works, but I can surely tell you the cocktail is a sweet and sour beauty with tongue-popping acidity. Most signature cocktail on the menu right now use clarification and fat washing, giving them linearity in a milky texture. They also tend to lean sweet, which is expected in Korean food and drinks. I'll be curious how Sung experiments moving forward, leaning on spice, salt, and umami in other iterations. Insider tip on drinks: Be sure to order the makgeolli service (cloudy Korean rice wine) ($22) served from the traditional gold aluminum kettle in golden cups. Pair it with the KFC chicken nuggets. Buy bottles of soju and gin to take home. Why go here: Minhwa Spirits gets it. The precarious 'it' is the balance between accessibility and finesse, and a downright cool factor. The team here is finding its groove, and it is exciting to witness their experimentation. The distillery is drawing local talent to itself seemingly naturally, making the space a creativity incubator, all while keeping its boozy and cultural spirit alive. This is my kind of house party. Eater Atlanta All your essential food and restaurant intel delivered to you Email (required) Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
UFC legend reveals Brock Lesnar's ‘banned' WWE status
The post UFC legend reveals Brock Lesnar's 'banned' WWE status appeared first on ClutchPoints. According to former UFC Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier, WWE star Brock Lesnar is on the 'banned list' amid his indefinite hiatus. If this is true, this could spell the end of Lesnar's professional wrestling career. During an interview on the MIghycast podcast, Cormier debunked the idea of facing Lesnar in WWE (1:13:00 mark). He claimed Lesnar was on a 'banned list,' though he didn't specify if it was from WWE, UFC, or their parent company, TKO. 'I mean, Brock is on the banned list right now,' Cormier revealed. 'Brock got into so much trouble… I ain't telling you on-air what Brock did, [but] Brock is in so much trouble.' That makes it sound like Lesnar will not be coming back to WWE anytime soon. Whether he is 'banned' from WWE or TKO altogether, it does not look good for him. Why is WWE star Brock Lesnar on the 'banned list'? Lesnar has not been seen in WWE since August 2023. He faced Cody Rhodes in the rubber match of their feud at SummerSlam. Afterward, he raised Rhodes' arm, seemingly passing the torch to the 'American Nightmare.' While he was supposed to return at the Royal Rumble in January 2024, Lesnar was pulled from his plans. This was due to a former WWE employee, Janel Grant, filing a lawsuit against Vince McMahon. Initially, Lesnar was not specifically named in the lawsuit. However, it was heavily implied that he was involved, as McMahon tried to traffic Grant to Lesnar during his contract negotiations to return to WWE in 2021. Later, in February 2025, Lesnar was officially named in the lawsuit. WWE and TKO have continued to withhold Lesnar from returning to the ring. It is unclear if he will ever get back in the squared circle. It would almost be a surprise at this point. Since coming back to wrestling in 2021, Lesnar has predominantly been a babyface. This was a drastic change from his previous tenures, during which he usually played the heel. Lesnar feuded with Roman Reigns over the Universal Championship upon his return. Their longstanding feud culminated at the 2022 SummerSlam event. After that, he had matches with Bobby Lashley, Omos, and Rhodes. Related: WWE star Drew McIntyre trolls SummerSlam foes with viral Coldplay meme Related: WWE star Roman Reigns shuts down 6th kid rumors during hiatus Solve the daily Crossword
