Zuffa Boxing will officially kick off its inaugural event on Friday at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, with undefeated Callum Walsh taking on former title challenger Carlos Ocampo in a middleweight fight.
It’s been a long time since UFC CEO Dana White teased the launch of the boxing promotion nearly a decade ago after the high-profile boxing match between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor in August 2017. He wanted to fix what he called a “broken” system. The launch was repeatedly delayed until last year, when White announced that UFC parent company TKO Group Holdings would enter the boxing industry under the name Zuffa Boxing in partnership with Sela Sport, with the support of Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority.
Ahead of Zuffa Boxing’s debut event, this guide will answer your burning questions about the promotion and its intentions.
What is Zuffa Boxing and which fighters has it signed?
Zuffa Boxing is a promotion founded by White and Alalshikh. The company is a joint venture between Sela Sport, a Saudi entertainment and hospitality company owned by the Public Investment Fund, and TKO Group Holdings. In June 2025, White officially announced that he would adopt the UFC promotional model for his recent promotion, Zuffa Boxing.
Zuffa Boxing will have its own championship titles and will operate The Ring magazine’s ranking system to determine the best fighters.
The promotion secured a media rights deal with Paramount Skydance in September to stream events on Paramount+ and simulcast select events on CBS.
The promotion has reportedly signed Irish super middleweight prospect Callum Walsh, former WBA junior welterweight champion Jose Valenzuela, middleweight prospect Vito Mielnicki, welterweight Radzhab Butaev, heavyweight Efe Ajagba and junior middleweight Serhii Bohachuk. The biggest name signed to the organization so far is IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia.
When and where will Zuffa Boxing events take place?
Zuffa Boxing events will be held at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas for the foreseeable future. The inaugural gala will take place on Friday, the day before UFC 324 at T-Mobile Arena. In addition to the Walsh vs. Ocampo, the event will feature Misael Rodriguez vs. Austin Deanda in the middleweight co-main event, and Julian Rodriguez will face Cain Sandoval in the main card opener.
The second gala is scheduled for February 1, and the main event will be the catchweight fight between Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela and Diego Torres. The February 14 event is reported to be a fight between slum heavyweight Efe Ajagba and former IBF champion Charles Martin.
Are the rules the same as in regular boxing?
Nevada State Athletic Commission Executive Director Jeffrey Mullen told ESPN on Thursday that “all the rules will be the same.”
Currently, men’s boxing consists of three-minute rounds in which three judges operate a 10-point must system to decide the outcome if the fight goes the distance.
Championship fights last 12 rounds, while non-title fights can last 4, 6, 8 or 10 rounds. Boxing glove sizes are typically 8 ounces or 10 ounces depending on the weight class, with lighter weight classes up to 140 pounds using 8-ounce gloves and bulky weight classes where 10-ounce gloves are selected. White has teased changes to the boxing ring, but has yet to reveal what those changes might be.
Will fighters fight for established boxing titles (WBC, WBO, IBF and WBA)? How will the players be classified?
White has regularly stated that he dislikes boxing’s current governing body and has plans to maintain Zuffa Boxing’s independence, much like the UFC.
“I’ve been talking trash about boxing for a long time, and now it’s time to put my money where my mouth is,” White said in a recent January interview with Stephen A. Smith. “I’m going to get rid of the sanctioning organizations. The best are going to fight the best. We’re going to get all the newborn, up-and-coming guys.
“If you get in the top 10 and you’re still undefeated, your undefeated record means something. Everyone is undefeated in boxing because no one is fighting anyone.”
Using the same business model as the UFC, Zuffa Boxing plans to crown its own world champions. The only ranking system he will recognize is from The Ring magazine, which is owned by Alalshikh.
The recent signing of Opetaia has complicated this plan. In a video announcing his signing with Zuffa Boxing, Opetaia hinted that he would take advantage of the opportunity to become the undisputed cruiserweight champion.
Opetai’s manager, Mick Francis, said unification fights would be a priority for his fighter and Zuffa Boxing agreed to let him pursue the opportunity.
“One of the concerns was [Zuffa Boxing] he didn’t recognize the sanctioning authorities,” Francis said in an interview with Boxing King Media. “However, to sweeten the deal and get Jai over the line, the idea is that they will allow Jai to fight for the titles and unify the division, which is what he wants.”
White confirmed Wednesday that Zuffa Boxing will lend a hand Opetaia achieve his goal of becoming the undisputed cruiserweight champion.
“Everything is a work in progress,” White said at a Zuffa Boxing news conference on the need to cooperate with other sanctioning authorities on Opetai’s behalf. “All these guys came from somewhere and had dreams since they first put on the gloves. We’re going to do everything we can to make sure these guys can do what they want to do.”
Are events approved by state athletic commissions? Will there be drug tests?
The Nevada State Athletic Commission currently oversees all combat sports events in the state, but it has not yet been revealed how drug testing will be implemented at Zuffa Boxing. NSAC and Zuffa Boxing did not respond to ESPN’s question Wednesday about drug testing.
In slow 2023, the UFC transitioned from the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) to create its own drug testing program, the UFC Anti-Doping Program.
How does the proposed Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act affect Zuffa boxing?
In April 2025, TKO Group requested an amendment to the Professional Boxing Safety Act of 1996 before formally announcing the launch of Zuffa Boxing. The bill was introduced in July and was called the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act (HR 4624). This legislation would enable the creation of United Boxing Organizations (UBOs) as an alternative to the sanctioning bodies that currently oversee boxing. This would enable Zuffa Boxing to operate outside the current sanctioning bodies, establishing its own world title and ranking system.
Zuffa Boxing representatives told ESPN that H.R. 4624 would not change any language in the current Muhammad Ali Act. Instead, it would implement and improve current law, which officials say would provide more opportunities for boxers. The bill, H.R. 4624, passed the House Education and Workforce Committee on January 21 by a vote of 30 to 4. It must now be approved by both houses of Congress to become law.
With the UFC under the same parent company, will MMA fighters move to the boxing ring?
Over the past few months, White has not budged from his stance when the media has asked this question.
“I didn’t want it when I wasn’t boxing and I definitely don’t want it now,” White said at a news conference Wednesday.
MMA2 days ago
MMA2 days ago
MMA2 days ago
MMA2 days ago
MMA2 days ago
Boxing1 day ago
Boxing1 day ago
Boxing24 hours ago