New York, NY – TKO Group Holdings, the parent company of UFC and WWE, has announced a significant expansion into the world of boxing through Zuffa Boxing, establishing an exclusive media rights agreement with Paramount Global. Under the long-term agreement, Paramount+ will become the exclusive broadcasting home for Zuffa Boxing events throughout North America, beginning in 2026. The deal anticipates the broadcast of 12 cards in 2026, with the potential for select events to be simulcast on CBS and the expectation of additional cards in subsequent years.

Zuffa Boxing, formally established in March, is a joint venture between TKO and Saudi Arabia’s entertainment conglomerate Sela. The promotion is spearheaded by UFC President and CEO Dana White and WWE President Nick Khan, in collaboration with Sela CEO Dr. Rakhan Alharty and Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority and President of the Saudi Boxing Federation.

Alalshikh expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, "This partnership with Paramount reinforces our vision to redefine the way viewers consume boxing. More fight fans will now have access to watch some of the most exciting boxers around. We have seen the proof that the appetite is there; this is the future for live boxing coverage and will ensure the sport continues to thrive."

Alalshikh’s involvement in boxing has rapidly grown in recent years. His acquisition of "The Ring" magazine in 2024 and subsequent launch of a boxing series under the same name underscores his commitment to revitalizing the sport. He has also been a key figure in funding and promoting major boxing events, including the Terence Crawford vs. Errol Spence Jr. bout held at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas earlier this month. This event served as an unofficial prelude to the launch of Zuffa Boxing, showcasing the potential scale of future promotions. Crawford dominated Spence Jr. to become the undisputed welterweight champion via TKO in the ninth round, adding another significant victory to his record of 40 wins and no losses.

Dana White commented on the timing of the deal, saying, "Timing is everything, and the timing was perfect. I met [Alalshikh] two years ago, and off of our first meeting, I had less-than-zero intent on getting into boxing. As I got to get to know him, he’s obviously very passionate about the sport. He loves it, and the boxing fights that have been made since he got into the sport would have never been done in a million years."

This announcement follows TKO’s recent seven-year agreement with Paramount+ to exclusively distribute all UFC numbered and "Fight Night" events, further consolidating Paramount’s position in combat sports broadcasting. The deal, reported to be valued at approximately $300 million annually, marks a shift away from the traditional pay-per-view model for UFC events, aiming to broaden viewership through the subscription-based streaming service.

White outlined his vision for Zuffa Boxing, indicating that it will serve as a platform for developing emerging talent. The promotion intends to match promising prospects in evenly contested bouts, fostering the creation of future stars who may eventually feature in Alalshikh’s "The Ring" and Riyadh Season events. This model bears a resemblance to the UFC’s successful "The Ultimate Fighter" reality TV show, which played a pivotal role in launching the careers of numerous UFC champions, including Forrest Griffin, Rashad Evans, Michael Bisping, Kamaru Usman, Rose Namajunas, and TJ Dillashaw.

"When you think about the UFC and where we came from, it’s hard for people to really wrap their heads around how humble the beginnings were," White stated. "We are going to start [Zuffa Boxing] from the ground up on the Paramount platform and matchmake great fights with guys who should be fighting each other at a young point in their career, and you start to build a relationship with the fans and they start to trust your product. Whatever night it lands on, it’s destination TV, and people want to be there and people want to see it."

White, who has a background as a trainer and aspiring boxing manager in the late 1990s, was instrumental in the Zuffa LLC company’s acquisition of UFC in 2001. He played a central role in transforming UFC into the dominant global MMA promotion by addressing what he perceived as shortcomings in the boxing industry.

He anticipates replicating this approach with Zuffa Boxing, aiming to revitalize a sport he believes is currently lacking in structure. White has openly stated that Zuffa Boxing will draw inspiration from the former USA Network series "Tuesday Night Fights," which aired from 1982 to 1998 and gained a cult following for its showcasing of competitive boxing matches.

While specific details regarding the format of Zuffa Boxing are still under development, White has indicated plans to streamline the sport by reducing the number of weight divisions from the current 17. Furthermore, he aims to move away from the current four-belt championship system managed by sanctioning bodies such as the WBC, WBA, WBO, and IBF. These organizations have faced criticism for the proliferation of titles and perceived conflicts of interest in sanctioning fights.

To facilitate the implementation of Zuffa Boxing’s vision, TKO has been advocating for amendments to the "Professional Boxing Safety Act," enacted in 1996. The proposed adjustments, which have reportedly garnered bipartisan support, are expected to be presented before Congress later this year. However, these proposals have also faced opposition from some within the boxing community, who express concerns about potential disruptions to the existing regulatory framework.

White has asserted that Zuffa Boxing will proceed regardless of whether the proposed amendments are approved, downplaying the significance of the controversy.

"There will be zero changes to the ["Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act" of 2000]. Not one word will be changed; we are going to add on to it," White clarified. "So, the fighters who want to fight under the Muhammad Ali Act exactly the way it is will have that opportunity to do that, or you can bet on me and fight with me under our version of the Muhammad Ali Act. That thing has been blown out of proportion, and I get it I knew people were going to freak out because that’s what people do. The Muhammad Ali Act was put in place with all good intentions, but I think that it has held the business back."

White believes Zuffa Boxing can inject new energy into the American boxing market, which he feels has underperformed in recent years. He envisions Zuffa Boxing as both an independent league and a promotion, indicating that he is unlikely to engage in co-promotional ventures with established boxing entities.

"I live in my own little bubble; I’m going to do my thing," he said. "I’m not worried about what any of those guys are doing, and to be honest, those guys don’t think big enough. These guys have been in the business for however long, and I think all of those guys think small. They don’t think the way that I think. I’m not competing with the other promoters; I’m competing with whatever takes the attention of the fans on the night that we are on television."

The launch of Zuffa Boxing marks a bold move by TKO Group Holdings and Dana White to reshape the boxing landscape. With the backing of Saudi Arabia’s Sela and the exclusive media rights agreement with Paramount+, Zuffa Boxing is poised to make a significant impact on the sport. Whether this initiative will be hailed as a savior or a disruption remains to be seen, but White’s track record of success with UFC suggests that he has a clear vision for the future of boxing.

"Some people say I can save [boxing], and some people say I’m the worst thing to ever happen to it. I have absolutely zero ego going into this thing because I know how messed up the sport is. I have a plan, I started to build a team, and I’m going to put my head down and grind like I do for the next couple of years and we will see where we end up," White concluded. "I am very optimistic about this."

Paramount, which owns CBS Sports through Skydance Media, will play a key role in broadcasting and promoting Zuffa Boxing events, leveraging its existing sports programming infrastructure to reach a broad audience. The partnership represents a significant investment in the future of boxing and signals a new era for the sport.

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