Dana White’s aggressive plans for a new boxing venture have already sparked a sharp debate, with critics blasting the “Zuffa Boxing” name after the UFC boss confirmed there will be a “Zuffa Belt” under his model.
White told Inside Ring that the format would mirror the UFC’s massively successful structure, deliberately sidelining boxing’s long-standing traditions.
“There will be a Zuffa belt, and there will be a Ring belt. And, yes, I will not recognize any of the other sanctioning bodies,” White stated emphatically. “Yeah, based on the UFC model. I hear a lot of people talking about, ‘It’ll never work.’ Well, we’ll find out in the next couple of years.”
Critics Blast ‘Goofy’ Name for Elite Boxing
However, detractors are vehemently unimpressed with the branding, arguing that the “Zuffa” label—a name rooted in the UFC’s original holding company—”doesn’t suit boxing at the elite level.”
One frustrated fan made their feelings clear, urging White to rethink the idea entirely:
“I’m done with Zuffa Boxing. Please change the name. This is boxing, and the highest-level fighters will be competing here. Stop it, change the name. What even is Zuffa? It’s a goofy name for a company. Dead***, change it.”
White’s Defiant Conclusion: ‘We’ll Find Out’
The immediate backlash highlights the uphill battle White faces as he attempts to establish his promotion in a sport notoriously resistant to change. While the UFC model has proven revolutionary in mixed martial arts, boxing’s ingrained traditions, powerful sanctioning bodies, and unique fan expectations make the transition far from straightforward.
Other names offered are the Ultimate Boxing Championship, which obviously plays off the Ultimate Fighting Championship, or simply TKO, named after the parent company, TKO Group Holdings. The UBC Belt or TKO Belt has a significantly better feel, but with White as stubborn as ever, it may take some fans a while to get used to the Zuffa Belt.
Whether the “Zuffa” name sticks or whether his belt vision will reshape the landscape, the UFC boss is determined to test the waters and find out.
However, White remains characteristically defiant. He is adamant that a simplified belt system and centralized promotional approach can succeed where boxing’s current politics have failed. As White himself warns his critics: “We’ll find out in the next couple of years.”
About the Author
Phil Jay is a veteran boxing journalist with over 15 years of experience covering the global fight scene. As Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News since 2010, Jay has interviewed dozens of world champions and reported ringside on boxing’s biggest nights. [View all articles by Phil Jay] and learn more about his work in combat sports journalism.