Latest news with #TKOBoxing
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
New bill introduced into Congress would allow TKO to create UFC structure in boxing
Dana White's biggest play in boxing yet is starting to take shape. UFC CEO White, who founded TKO Boxing alongside Saudi Arabian boxing financier Turki Alalshikh and WWE President Nick Khan, will promote the Sept. 13 battle of pound-for-pound greats between Saul "Canelo" Alvarez and Terence "Bud" Crawford — but a move perhaps more important for TKO in the long run was presented in the United States Congress on Wednesday. A new bipartisan bill, the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act, has been introduced by two members of Congress — Georgia Republication Brian Jack and Kansas Democrat (and former MMA fighter) Sharice Davids — to amend the Professional Boxing Safety Act. The bill would allow for the creation of alternative systems called Unified Boxing Organizations (UBOs). At the present time, boxing operates within a four-belt system whereby boxers work their way up through the rankings of the sport's four major sanctioning bodies — the WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF — until they can eventually fight for a world title with one of them. UBOs would not replace the current structure of boxing; it would instead create a separate, parallel system that runs alongside it, offering boxers the choice between the traditional sanctioning body model or the UBO model. UBOs would be allowed to run rankings systems, award UBO titles and organize events. In essence, promoters would be able to promote fights for titles and rankings, which they also control — a stark contrast to how the pugilistic art is currently run. The biggest benefactor of these changes is, without a doubt, TKO Boxing. With the bill's passing, TKO Boxing would be allowed to form a UBO of its own and operate a UFC-type "league" model within it. The sport of boxing has long been criticized for having too many belts, making it difficult for fans to be aware of who the best in the division is or what the universal rankings for those divisions actually look like. Furthermore, sanctioning bodies have a clear conflict of interest, as they charge a percentage fee for championship matches and therefore benefit from the most popular fighters being successful within their system, or from extra, unnecessary titles — such as regular, gold, and franchise titles — being created and used on a regular basis. UBOs, however, would not be allowed to charge boxers any fees for placement in the rankings or the right to participate in championship matches. Additionally, the bill sets to enact a national minimum payment for all professional boxers at $150 per round. While this appears insignificant, six states have minimums below $150, and most states have no minimum payments at all. This rule would help prevent up-and-coming fighters from being exploited, as it is common knowledge that fighters on club shows sometimes pay to fight or fight for no money. The legislation, if it passes, would also create a national minimum of $25,000 for coverage for injuries sustained during a fight, higher than current minimums in 43 states. UBO boxers would benefit from additional health and safety protections, including enhanced comprehensive medical exams, more licensed physicians and ambulance units present at each event, and health coverage for injuries sustained during training for a bout. UBOs would have comprehensive anti-doping testing programs and strict anti-betting policies. This legislation is endorsed by the Association of Boxing Commissions and Lonnie Ali, wife of the late boxing legend Muhammad Ali.
USA Today
6 days 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
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Video: Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford New York news conference live stream
We're a couple months out from the highly anticipated unified super middleweight title fight between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford, but the promotional campaign is ramping up. Canelo (63-2-2) vs. Crawford (41-0) will take place Sept. 13 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas and will stream on Netflix. UFC CEO Dana White will promote the fight under TKO Boxing alongside Saudi Arabia's Turki Alalshikh. Advertisement Canelo and Crawford started a three-city international press tour in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Friday. Sunday, they're at Fanatics Fest in New York. Watch the pre-fight news conference with the fighters and White, plus their latest faceoff, above. This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Video: Canelo vs. Crawford New York news conference live stream
USA Today
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Video: Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford New York news conference live stream
We're a couple months out from the highly anticipated unified super middleweight title fight between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford, but the promotional campaign is ramping up. Canelo (63-2-2) vs. Crawford (41-0) will take place Sept. 13 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas and will stream on Netflix. UFC CEO Dana White will promote the fight under TKO Boxing alongside Saudi Arabia's Turki Alalshikh. Canelo and Crawford started a three-city international press tour in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Friday. Sunday, they're at Fanatics Fest in New York. Watch the pre-fight news conference with the fighters and White, plus their latest faceoff, above.
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford to have KO bonus after Canelo's all-time stinker against William Scull
Saul "Canelo" Alvarez and Terence Crawford faced off Friday at the kickoff press conference for their Sept. 13 showdown. The highly-anticipated Saul "Canelo" Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford showdown on Sept. 13 will be the first fight financed by Turki Alalshikh to have a knockout bonus, Alalshikh announced Friday at the kickoff press conference for the Netflix-streamed undisputed super middleweight title bout in Riyadh. The lead promoter for Alvarez vs. Crawford is Dana White and TKO Boxing — the venture formed by Alalshikh, White and WWE President Nick Khan earlier this year. White is also the CEO of the UFC, where performance-related bonuses are a regular feature. "We will not have [a fighter who is running] anymore [on our shows], this is the first thing," Alalshikh responded when asked how he plans to prevent disappointing 'Tom and Jerry' fights moving forward. Advertisement "The second [thing], we will have in [Alvarez vs. Crawford] and [future] fights, bonuses for KOs." Alvarez's most recent ring appearance was a historically dreadful bout against Cuba's William Scull. Alvarez (152) and Scull (293) combined to throw the fewest punches in a 12-round fight in the 40-year history of boxing stat-tracker CompuBox. Scull refused to fight with Alvarez, instead choosing to throw pitter-patter jabs and moving constantly. "Canelo" was forced to chase him down and push to engage, but Alvarez's 34-year-old legs did a poor job of that and it made for an abysmal watch. The night before — also on a show funded by Alalshikh — Devin Haney (224) and Jose Ramirez (279) combined to throw the fourth-fewest punches at the time in a 12-round fight, while Rolando "Rolly" Romero (280) and Ryan Garcia (210) combined to throw the third-fewest punches ever in a 12-round fight. After the back-to-back disappointing shows, Alalshikh voiced his frustration with "Tom and Jerry" fights and fighters who competed with an unentertaining style. His debuting of the knockout bonus on Sept. 13 serves as an attempt to change boxers' approaches to fights, reminding them of the need to entertain as well as win. Advertisement Alalshikh did not clarify how much the knockout bonus would be for Alvarez vs. Crawford, although the pair's combined purses for the superfight are expected to exceed $100 million. Inside the distance or not, Crawford continued to insist that he has what it takes to defeat Alvarez at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas and become the first fighter of the four-belt era to become an undisputed champion in three weight divisions. "For sure, the belts are coming with me, they're coming home with me. I'm telling you right now," Crawford said to Alvarez. "I know Turki is in your corner," Alvarez responded, "but look, it's going to be very difficult. [Alalshikh is] going to be so mad that day, believe me." Advertisement Alvarez and Alalshikh have had an up-and-down relationship over the past year. Alalshikh said he would crush Alvarez's fight against Edgar Berlanga this past September with a competing event that night, UFC 306. Alvarez was not impressed by those comments and retaliated against the Saudi boxing financier. The pair, however, ultimately reconciled and agreed on a four-fight deal this past February. The second of those four bouts for Alvarez will be against Crawford in September.
