Notebook: Paramount 'front-runner' for Zuffa Boxing rights, per report
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The media rights to upstart Zuffa Boxing are likely headed to Paramount, according to a report by sports media outlet Front Office Sports.
Paramount was termed the “front-runner” for the rights, FOS reported, according to sources.
Zuffa Boxing, which is owned by TKO — also the parent company of UFC and WWE — will promote its first event on Sept. 13, the Canelo Alvarez-Terence Crawford undisputed super middleweight fight at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Netflix.
But the new promotion, a partnership between Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority; SELA, which is a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund; and UFC president and CEO Dana White and WWE president Nick Khan, is supposed to kick into high gear with a regular slate of events in 2026
Under the multi-year deal announced in early March, the Saudis will pay TKO $10 million annually to manage Zuffa Boxing and run the day-to-day operations and events.