Give TKO, White chance in boxing before bashing them as many have
Plus tons of other random thoughts on Wilder's return; Zepeda-Farmer scores; best women's fight that can be made; Davis-Roach mess; good & bad fights on tap; fantasy bouts; ideal Inoue plan; much more
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It’s been a minute but I’m back with a hefty dose of boxing random thoughts…
Much of the boxing industry has acted like their hair is on fire with the recent announcement of the deal between UFC and WWE parent company TKO and Turki Alalshikh, on behalf of the Saudi Arabian government, that will see UFC boss Dana White front a new boxing promotion with WWE boss Nick Khan also wielding huge influence behind the scenes.
It has been met with tremendous negativity, which was to be expected from those in the business who fear the disruption that appears likely to happen.
While White has said he has no plans to work with other companies, wants to use fewer weight classes than the ridiculous 17 that exist (18 if you include the bridgerweight division used by two organizations), and has no interest in dealing with the sanctioning bodies, that is his prerogative. I don’t necessarily agree with that position but whether it turns out to be good or bad decision will be up to the marketplace to decide.
My perspective: How about wait and see who the new outfit (still unnamed) signs, what kind of broadcast deal they land, and what kind of fights and events they deliver?
Competition is good for the consumers/fans as well as for the fighters, who will have more places to shop their services. Those things are more important to me than a promoter who might be worried about what White might do.
Those promoters and other industry sorts who have been doing nothing but talking bad about the new deal here’s a message: Do a better job with your own product and you’ll be just fine.
When Oleksandr Usyk returns, I hope THE heavyweight champ fights Joseph Parker, the WBO interim titlist and mandatory challenger. That mandatory has been ordered and Parker easily deserves the shot more than anyone.