Boxing
Zuffa Boxing plans up to 16 events in 2026 with global expansion
Published
3 months agoon
Zuffa Boxing is planning 12 to 16 events in 2026, including international fight cards and up to four marquee superfights per year, according to TKO Group Holdings CEO Mark Shapiro during the company’s fourth-quarter earnings announcement on Tuesday.
The promotion, which launched in January 2026 as a joint venture between TKO and Saudi Arabia’s Sela, has already secured a media rights deal with Paramount+ covering the United States, Canada and Latin America, with additional territories currently in negotiations.
“We are encouraged by our initial progress in 2025 in signing a media rights deal with Paramount Plus in the United States, Canada and Latin America,” Shapiro said. “We are signing a robust portfolio of boxers to our roster and are already planning a 2026 fight card calendar that will take us outside the United States.”
He added: “All I can say is: be careful. Our goal is to build this into a behemoth.”
Super Fights and the Sela Partnership
In addition to Zuffa Boxing’s regular calendar of events, Shapiro said the organization will host two to four superfights per year in partnership with Sela. The first confirmed event under this structure will be Tyson Fury vs. Arslanbek Makhmudov, which will take place on April 11 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, with Zuffa Boxing and Sela listed as co-hosts, and will be broadcast on Netflix.
Shapiro also addressed the Conor Benn transfer that made headlines this month, explaining that it is a one-fight deal financed by Sela – not directly by Zuffa Boxing – under the same structure as last year’s Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford event. He dismissed criticism from Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn, claiming he was “stirring the pot in a fictional way” and said the story “took on a life of its own”.
“It’s only one fight!” Shapiro said.
The superfight model is designed to build competition and showcase Zuffa Boxing fighters against the backdrop of larger events, expanding the profile of the promotion’s lineup while Sela absorbs the costs of the main fights.
How the venture works
Shapiro presented the financial structure of the joint venture in exceptional detail. Sela finances all operations, while TKO has no obligation to finance. TKO charges an annual management fee of $10 million to run the promotion, as well as an additional $10 million service fee for each superfight event and commissions from media rights deals negotiated on behalf of the venture.
TKO acquired a 25% stake in Zuffa Boxing in 2025 and expects to achieve a roughly 50/50 ownership stake in the company within a few years, hitting performance milestones that Shapiro says are already within reach.
“The way we have structured the joint venture with our partners in Saudi Arabia, specifically Sela, is that they are financing it,” Shapiro said. “We have no obligation to finance. We intend to build goodwill.”
Zuffa Boxing is treated as an equity method investment in TKO’s financial statements, which means its revenues and losses are not consolidated in TKO’s main figures. This project is included in the “Corporations and other” segment of TKO, next to PBR and general administrative expenses.
The bigger picture
TKO reported full-year 2025 revenues of $4.735 billion across its portfolio, which includes UFC, WWE, PBR and IMG. Business 2026 guidance projects revenues of $5.675 billion to $5.775 billiondriven primarily by fresh media rights deals for the UFC and WWE with Paramount and Disney.
Shapiro positioned Zuffa Boxing as an additional growth channel with the same revenue streams that TKO has built around its other properties – media rights, consumer licensing, ticket sales, site fees and global partnerships. Integration with UFC, WWE and PBR also gives TKO an advantage in negotiations with broadcast and streaming partners.
For a promotion that’s only been around for a month, the infrastructure is growing rapidly. The deal with Paramount+ has been struck, international territories are on the cards, the London superfight is booked for April and the 2026 calendar is full. Whether Zuffa Boxing can produce results on the scale described by Shapiro will depend on how quickly it can build a roster deep enough to accommodate more than a dozen fighters a year – but TKO has made clear that it intends to treat boxing with the same operational machinery it has built around mixed martial arts.
You may like
“I just don’t think they’re going to face the fire,” Hearn told iFL TV about Dana White and his company at Zuffa.
“You have years of catching, putting out fires and being bombarded with pellets and grenades to overcome this.
“I just don’t think they’ll be ready for the fire. You must be a little unwell.” [__] to do this. That’s what I do.”
Hearn also ridiculed White’s recent comments about boxing promotion and said the UFC president faces criticism now that he is in the boxing industry.
“He stank,” Hearn said.
“He’s not used to this. Don’t forget what we do, which is meeting people, giving interviews. But he had a narrative.
“He didn’t have anyone like that. That’s why he can’t do it and instead just says weird lyrics.”
Hearn later joked that White’s repeated comments about him actually helped escalate his visibility in the United States.
“I have to thank Dana White,” Hearn said.
“Every press conference he holds, he talks about me.
“I think there are people asking, ‘Who is this Eddie Hearn?’ Little Google, boss, Eddie Hearn.
Promoter Matchroom also rejected White’s recent claim that no promoter has staged more boxing events this year than Zuffa Boxing.
“The entire media audience responded, ‘Okay,’ and moved on to the next question,” Hearn said.
“Imagine if I said that. I would be fried by it in an instant.”
Hearn’s latest comments come as Zuffa Boxing continues to try to establish itself in the sport following months of public photos between White and several longtime boxing promoters.

Robert Segal is a boxing reporter at Boxing News 24 with over a decade of experience covering fight news, previews and analysis. Known for his first-hand reporting and in-ring perspective, he delivers trustworthy coverage of champions, challengers and emerging talent from around the world.
Boxing
Roy Jones Jr Says There’s ‘Only One Fight Ahead’ for David Benavidez: ‘You’ll Beat Everyone’
Published
3 hours agoon
May 15, 2026
Roy Jones Jr urged David Benavidez to follow in his footsteps rather than fight Dmitry Bivol in an undisputed lithe heavyweight clash.
The “Mexican Monster” appears the sixth round ended with a victory over Gilberto Ramirezwhom he dethroned earlier this month to become three-division world champion.
However, despite winning the WBO and WBA cruiserweight titles, Benavidez expressed interest in returning to 175 pounds, where he still holds the WBC belt.
That would mean chasing unified champion Bivol, who must first defeat IBF mandatory challenger Michael Eifert on May 30.
The Russian hasn’t fought since he overtook Artur Beterbiev in February 2025, when he exacted revenge by majority decision and became the undisputed king.
Bivol then vacated the WBC title after deciding to undergo back surgery, which allowed Benavidez to be promoted from “interim” to full champion.
But rather than return to lithe heavyweight, Jones would prefer to see Benavidez test his skills at heavyweight, as he did against John Ruiz in 2003.
In a conversation with professional boxing fans, the pound-for-pound legend said that a fight with Oleksandr Usyk, who still holds the WBC, IBF and WBA titles, is the only fight that makes sense for him.
“This is the only fight for him right now and the only fight I want to see him in.
“You beat everyone in every other category, [so] go upstairs and fight Usyk. This is the best fight for him.”
𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧’𝗦 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗢𝗡𝗟𝗬 𝗙𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗜 𝗪𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗦𝗘𝗘 𝗛𝗜𝗠 𝗜𝗡” 🤷♂️
‼️ @RealRoyJonesJr CALLS @Benavidez300 fight @usykaa 👀 pic.twitter.com/pcSxWeol3n
— Professional boxing fans (@ProBoxingFans) May 14, 2026
While Benavidez has expressed a desire to challenge Usyk at heavyweight, he has said he won’t be ramping up his weight gain anytime soon and is therefore much more likely to receive his next assignment against Bivol.
It then remains to be seen whether Usyk will stay in the sport long enough to face the 29-year-old, which could end up fighting another heavyweight champion.
The weigh-ins quickly turned tense when Albright apparently sent a message directly to Davis during their bout.
“Be a professional,” Albright said in a recording later released by DAZN Boxing.
The lack of weight immediately sparked a backlash online, as Davis has dealt with weight issues before. Last year, Davis lost his WBO lightweight title after losing more than four pounds ahead of his scheduled defense against Edwin De Los Santos.
Friday also marked the second time Davis has failed to make weight in his last three fights.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum admitted that Davis was having difficulty gaining 140 pounds and suggested that the problem may still exist.
“Well, obviously he has issues at 140,” Arum told Fighthype. “The problem is the next category is seven pounds. That’s a gigantic difference.”
Arum also compared Friday’s setback to the loss of Davis, who was previously more than four pounds compact before his canceled fight with De Los Santos last year.
“It was inexcusable because he was five pounds overweight,” Arum said.
“He is now 0.1 weight off which he will improve and get down to 140 or less.”
Keyshawn was later asked by DAZN what he told Albright during Friday’s matchup.
“I didn’t say anything,” Davis said. “That’s what I do. I knock people out.”
When asked what kind of performance he expected in the rematch, Keyshawn gave a compact answer.
“An unexpected spectacle.”
There was already bad blood in the rematch after their first fight in October 2023 was later changed to a no-contest after Keyshawn tested positive for marijuana. Their original meeting initially resulted in Keyshawn winning by a majority vote.

Eddie Hearn questions Dana White’s boxing future
Dave Allen vs. Filip Hrgovic – weigh-in results
‘UNNECESSARY PUNISHMENT!’ – David Price CONCERNED for Fabio Wardley AFTER Dubois WAR
Pacquiao vs marquez competition: History of violence
Dmitry Menshikov statement in the February fight
Stephen Fulton Jr. becomes world champion in two weight by means of a decision
‘UNNECESSARY PUNISHMENT!’ – David Price CONCERNED for Fabio Wardley AFTER Dubois WAR
“WIND UP LONELY AND DEPRESSED!” Paulie Malignaggi WARNING To Ancient Foe Adrien Broner After Viral Rise
DANIEL DUBOIS FIRST WORDS AND MESSAGE TO FABIO WARDLEY POST TKO WIN!
Trending
-
Opinions & Features1 year agoPacquiao vs marquez competition: History of violence
-
MMA1 year agoDmitry Menshikov statement in the February fight
-
Results1 year agoStephen Fulton Jr. becomes world champion in two weight by means of a decision
-
Results1 year agoKeyshawn Davis Ko’s Berinchyk, when Xander Zayas moves to 21-0
-
Video1 year agoFrank Warren on Derek Chisora vs Otto Wallin – ‘I THOUGHT OTTO WOULD GIVE DEREK PROBLEMS!’
-
Analysis1 year agoRobert Garcia discusses the debate on the greatest Mexican warrior in history
-
Video1 year ago‘DEREK CHISORA RETIRE TONIGHT!’ – Anthony Yarde PLEADS for retirement after WALLIN
-
Results1 year agoLive: Catterall vs Barboza results and results card



