UFC boss Dana White appeared to confirm involvement in Tyson Fury’s next fight in boxing, an April 11 heavyweight bout against Russian giant Arslanbek Makhmudov.
This news first came to light earlier this week, when Boxing Social reported last week that TKO executive Mark Shapiro said during an investor call that Zuffa Boxing would have involvement in promoting Fury vs Makhmudov, which Netflix will broadcast to a worldwide audience.
iFL TV asked White midweek if this was accurate.
“If Mark said it, it must be true.”
One of Britain’s best heavyweights of all-time, Fury was initially promoted by Mick Hennessy, who was a key player during his developmental years and whom booked the Wladimir Klitschko fight — which Fury won by bamboozlement.
Fury signed with Frank Warren in 2018 and the Hall-of-Fame promoter organized the Deontay Wilder trilogy (which Fury won 2-0-1, 2 KOs), together with the two-fight series against Oleksandr Usyk (which Fury lost by decision both times).
If Fury signs with Zuffa, it would be his first new promoter in eight years.
“I’m looking to work with everybody,” White said.
To date, that’s been true as he’s secured the acquisition of Conor Benn for a reported $15 million, one-fight deal which will likely extend beyond that, with Shapiro saying earlier this week that they will look to bring Benn into their “Zuffa league” after the British slugger’s bout with Regis Prograis on the Fury-Makhmudov undercard.
“If you’re not under contract with somebody and I think you have the potential to be a great fighter or there’s a big match-up out there to be made, yeah — I’m interested.”
It was also reported last week that Zuffa Boxing was edging closer to a deal with British broadcaster Sky Sports, which seemingly has merit considering the Benn signing, and speculation regarding Fury. “I think there’s a lot of rumors out there right now with a lot of things,” White said.
“We’re going into our fourth fight and we have 18 television deals around the world already, and we’re looking to add to those.”
“I’m going to do shows everywhere. In the United States and not just in Las Vegas,” White said, together with Australia, Mexico, and the UK — putting it in direct competition with the only other real global boxing superpower, Matchroom.
Zuffa Boxing returns with its fourth event of the year on Sunday when Jai Opetaia and Brandon Glanton fight for the inaugural Zuffa cruiserweight championship.
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