The TKO Group Holdings business group is on the verge of announcing a boxing league in collaboration with UFC and WWE, with Arab investors poised to be the main sponsors, footing a substantial bill to bring this idea to life. The main events would feature fights between heavyweight fighters, including notable names like Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, and Oleksandr Usyk, although the latter’s involvement might be complicated due to his existing commitments in the professional field.
## More boxing in Arabia
UFC and WWE have already hosted special events in Saudi Arabia, and it seems they’re looking to expand their presence in the region. Mark Shapiro, president and operations director at TKO Holdings, revealed that they’re close to an agreement with the Saudis for the creation of a boxing league, where TKO would be the producer, promoter, and responsible for daily operations, earning a fee of $10 million in the process.
For now, there’s no indication of how this competition will be structured, considering that many boxers are currently signed under promoters like Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom, Bob Arum’s Top Rank, or Frank Warren’s Queensberry. The details of the league’s format and how it will operate in relation to existing promoters and fighters remain unclear.
A recent boxing event in Saudi Arabia showcased the country’s desire to host high-profile fights, with one of the best billboards in history. The sheikhs are eager to establish the country as a central hub for the sports world, and this new boxing league could be a significant step in that direction.
As things stand, TKO will be sponsoring four major world fights between 2025 and 2026, but it’s unclear whether these clashes will be part of the proposed ‘Super League.’ Shapiro’s comments suggest that there’s still much to be determined, and fans will have to wait for further announcements to get a clearer picture of what this new league will look like.