Endeavor president Mark Shapiro says they're "not writing a check" for Dana White's boxing dream just yet: "At its worst, it's broken"
Reports of Dana White venturing into the boxing world have prompted a reaction from Mark Shapiro, who claimed that while the organization wants to mark its presence in boxing, nothing has been finalized yet. The Endeavour president also commended White for his work over the years and lofty goals.
White has always been interested in boxing and has been formulating a plan to foray into the sport. The UFC CEO acknowledged his aspirations at a press conference on Sept. 19 before a boxing event in Dublin headlined by Callum Walsh.
During the recent TKO third-quarter earnings call, Shapiro expressed his thoughts on White's boxing endeavor, saying:
''Dana [White] says a lot of things and has a lot of passions. That's why we love him. He's also the best promoter in the sport of MMA, and if was boxing, has or will ever see. Boxing, at its best, is confused and fragmented. At its worst, it's broken. We think the sport presents an interesting growth opportunity for us... If we were to get involved with boxing, we would expect to do so in an organic way, not a MMA way. IE, we're not writing a check.''
Shapiro added:
''Nothing to announce today, but it's one area we're going to continue to explore...If the opportunity presents itself or we can chase one down that does not put much risk, or any risk, on us financially, then we're going to pursue it.''
Check out Mark Shapiro's comments below (via Jed I. Goodman's post on X):
Dana White's impact on boxing excites Eddie Hearn
Prominent boxing promoter Eddie Hearn shared his opinion on Dana White potentially launching his own boxing promotion. According to Hearn, boxing and mixed martial arts have distinct business models, and White's ascent to prominence in the boxing industry won't be easy. Nonetheless, the UFC CEO can achieve great success with the correct assistance.
In an interview with Sports Business Journal last month, Hearn said:
''Frustratingly for him [White], because it’s a real different model... It won’t be easy to come in and be a major player at the elite level of the sport... I mean, they’re a huge company and I think with the right guidance and right partners, they could have an incredibly positive effect on the sport. I hope Dana gets involved in boxing, I think it’d be great for us.”