A collision of egos is on the horizon, and this time, the battle won’t be fought in the ring. The boxing world is at a turning point with the entry of UFC president Dana White into the sport. His incursion has generated a strong reaction from the traditional boxing sector, particularly from Oscar De La Hoya, the head of Golden Boy Promotions, who feels directly challenged by White’s plans.
The recent partnership between White and Turki Alalshikh to launch a new boxing league has sparked widespread controversy. Alalshikh, in collaboration with TKO Holdings, aims to revolutionize boxing, with rumors suggesting a potential opening fight between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford.
However, Alalshikh’s bold statements about his ambition to “blow it all up” with the new league have been interpreted as a direct attack on the boxing establishment, including figures like De La Hoya.
De La Hoya’s response
De La Hoya’s offense stems from the perception that White, with his UFC model, intends to take control of boxing. “That comment offended me a little bit,” De La Hoya told Fight Hub TV on March 11. “I’ve been in boxing all my life. I’ve been promoting for over 20 years.”
Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, look on from ringside prior to the WBO Interim World Light Heavyweight Title fight between Joshua Buatsi and Callum Smith as part of Beterbiev v Bivol 2: The Last Crescendo at Kingdom Arena on February 22, 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
The Golden Boy Promotions founder emphasized his commitment to his company and DAZN, vowing to continue delivering the best fights to fans. “I am confident that this league, in a short time, will blow everything away,” he said, referencing Alalshikh’s comments. “While this may have generated excitement among fans, with Oscar… it did not!”
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De La Hoya’s warning to Alalshikh
While acknowledging the honor of working with Turki Alalshikh, De La Hoya made it clear that he will defend his territory. “I have my business that I will take care of. And nobody is going to touch me in that regard, because we are the best promoters in the world of boxing,” De La Hoya declared.
Opposing visions: The future of boxing
De La Hoya’s strong response has prompted Dana White to clarify his stance on collaborating with established promoters like De La Hoya and Eddie Hearn. White has been vocal about his vision of replicating the UFC’s model in boxing, where fighters are exclusive to the promotion, eliminating outside competition.
However, boxing operates differently from MMA, with top talent tied to established promoters and significant differences in fighter pay structures. When asked about his intention to work with figures like De La Hoya and Hearn, White replied uncertainly: “I don’t know how this is all going to play out. We’ll see.”
