President of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the world’s largest mixed martial arts promoter, has spoken about the crisis in modern professional boxing, already affecting the industry’s financial performance, in a presentation posted by MMA Fighting channel.
Many talented boxers are shut out from high-profile fights, which affects the entertainment value of the sport, Dana White said. At the same time, the UFC expects record numbers of ticket sales in 2019, and this does not even require big fights like Floyd Mayweather versus Conor McGregor (organized according to boxing rules). On the other hand, McGregor’s fight against Russia’s Khabib Nurmagomedov (in the UFC) had also been viewed as potentially scandalous and significant (primarily in the West) due to the Irish athlete’s activity and shocking statements. Revenues from the match set a new record exceeding $86 mio.
Anyway, intrigue has returned to the most prestigious weight category in boxing. With the departure of the Klitschko brothers, who held most of the prestigious heavyweight belts from mid-2010 to 2016, new champions emerged among the heavyweights, and not only from the US or UK. In June, Mexican athlete Andy Ruiz defeated the British favorite, Anthony Joshua, becoming the world champion according to four organizations unexpectedly for experts and bookmakers.
Yet, Dana White, who also used to box when he was younger, believes a new revolution in boxing is needed to break the current system and re-create it.