As the most active boxing state in the union, California does indeed set the tone for how the sport functions throughout the nation.
So considering what happened Wednesday, don’t expect a stiff resistance to Zuffa Boxing’s push to change federal regulations presiding over the sport.
By ramrodding through an unnecessary and unanimous 6-0 vote in an emergency meeting that caught many critics off guard, the California State Athletic Commission delivered Zuffa Boxing free and generous publicity to launch its campaign toward winning approval for its modifications from the U.S.House of Representatives and Senate.
Zuffa Boxing, seeking to avoid doing business with other promoters and to turn its back on the four sanctioning bodies, wants to rank and award belts to the circle of fighters it’s currently in the process of retaining.
Those familiar with the way Zuffa’s sister company UFC handles its fighter contracts also predict the company is plotting for powerful control over the careers of the fighters it signs.
The Zuffa carrot dangles to promising four-, six- and eight-round fighters who will receive minimum $150-per-round payments that typically exceed the national average along with improved health insurance and promised drug testing.
And while CSAC Executive Officer Andy Foster emphasizes how that group defines 84 per cent of the boxing population, the obvious intent is to develop the young crop to become the 10- and 12-round championship-level fighters, and to have them under lock and key in a corporate structure rather than the free-enterprise system that pervades in the sport today.
While Zuffa critics raising that point dominated the first CSAC meeting on this topic earlier this year, Wednesday’s session featured opening public remarks by no less than TKO’s Nick Khan, whose corporation presides over UFC, WWE and Zuffa Boxing.
“What we are proposing is an alternative system in which fighters will have more choice and opportunities, better pay, greater health and safety protections, and more events in which to compete,” Khan said in a statement following the session.
In a Thursday conversation with BoxingScene, Foster, a former professional MMA fighter, said, “The bill will do significant good for low-income beginner boxers and boxers who get injured in a match. The bill is good for boxing.”
But as the legislation heads to a Republican majority Congress willing to follow the direction of Zuffa Boxing head and UFC CEO/President Dana White’s friend President Trump, why did California – led by a Trump enemy governor in Gavin Newsom – feel obligated to bend over backwards in supporting such an obvious special-interest cause?
“It’s important for the state of California, the biggest boxing market in the country, to respond to this,” Foster told BoxingScene. “Part of my job is to evaluate federal regulations.This could potentially change boxing business as it is done. We would be derelict if we don’t evaluate this bill.”
The problem is, they didn’t truly evaluate it. The widespread criticism of UFC business methods aired at the prior meeting were dismissed as the ramblings of an axe-to-grind mixed martial arts fighters’ association.
The eloquent questioning by video journalist Sean Zittel of White at last month’s Terence Crawford-Canelo Alvarez news conference over the hundreds of millions of dollars gained in litigation over the UFC anti-trust business practices were chided as the queries of an “asshole.”
And the concerns over how Zuffa will disclose its earnings from a specific fight card to involved fighters were derided as nonsensical, with one backer saying fighters could check TKO’s public earnings calls for such details if they wanted that information.
Regulators were involved in the crafting of the new Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act, winning the minimum pay and insurance prongs while admitting, “I’ve got news for you – this thing’s going to pass no matter what” because of White’s political connections.
Some supporting the act complain that the four sanctioning bodies – WBC, WBA, WBO and IBF – are “running a racket” by charging fighters 3 per cent of their purses for all championship bouts, adding that the departure of HBO, Showtime and ESPN from boxing during the past decade has “dried up” earnings.
They project Zuffa Boxing’s deal will become a popular draw with its $10 million in annual backing from Saudi Arabia’s boxing financier Turki Alalshikh and its streaming deal on Paramount+.
“I’m not confused – Zuffa is a business, not a charity,” one Zuffa backer said. “They’re not a charity. But this [White] is the best [combat sports] promoter in the world and he’s made more millionaires than anyone. These [Zuffa] guys will make these fighters stars, which is exactly what this sport needs when the biggest problem with it has been the exploitation of poor people.
“Zuffa is bringing in 200 to 300 new boxers, and they’re going to see if they can do some good for boxing.”
Meanwhile, others are convinced the main intent is for the Zuffa brass to further enrich themselves.
Two-division champion Danny Garcia told reporter Ariel Helwani this week that by boxing without the disclosure safeguards of the current regulations, fighters risk receiving diminished purses while subjected to excessive fees from their representatives.
“That’s highway robbery, that’s stealing,” Garcia said. “That should be a crime …corporate extortion.”
Promoter and Hall of Fame fighter Oscar De La Hoya went in deeper on his ‘Clapback Thursday’ Instagram post, shredding CSAC for its surprise meeting and vote supporting Zuffa Boxing.
“[They] have been begging for these changes, so they can fuck fighters over with their new league,” De La Hoya said. “I am so disappointed.
“No other promoter has tried to change this act. Because there’s no reason to. We believe in fair business. But you have these … scumbags who needed to change. …
“They want to eliminate all other belts, the rich boxing history that comes along with the entire sport. So much for the American way. This is a huge red flag for fighters and managers … TKO is actively changing legislation so they can openly fuck fighters over. Fighters will be stuck in a dictatorship.”
Not if you were to ask the California commission.
So considering what happened Wednesday, don’t expect a stiff resistance to Zuffa Boxing’s push to change federal regulations presiding over the sport.
By ramrodding through an unnecessary and unanimous 6-0 vote in an emergency meeting that caught many critics off guard, the California State Athletic Commission delivered Zuffa Boxing free and generous publicity to launch its campaign toward winning approval for its modifications from the U.S.House of Representatives and Senate.
Zuffa Boxing, seeking to avoid doing business with other promoters and to turn its back on the four sanctioning bodies, wants to rank and award belts to the circle of fighters it’s currently in the process of retaining.
Those familiar with the way Zuffa’s sister company UFC handles its fighter contracts also predict the company is plotting for powerful control over the careers of the fighters it signs.
The Zuffa carrot dangles to promising four-, six- and eight-round fighters who will receive minimum $150-per-round payments that typically exceed the national average along with improved health insurance and promised drug testing.
And while CSAC Executive Officer Andy Foster emphasizes how that group defines 84 per cent of the boxing population, the obvious intent is to develop the young crop to become the 10- and 12-round championship-level fighters, and to have them under lock and key in a corporate structure rather than the free-enterprise system that pervades in the sport today.
While Zuffa critics raising that point dominated the first CSAC meeting on this topic earlier this year, Wednesday’s session featured opening public remarks by no less than TKO’s Nick Khan, whose corporation presides over UFC, WWE and Zuffa Boxing.
“What we are proposing is an alternative system in which fighters will have more choice and opportunities, better pay, greater health and safety protections, and more events in which to compete,” Khan said in a statement following the session.
In a Thursday conversation with BoxingScene, Foster, a former professional MMA fighter, said, “The bill will do significant good for low-income beginner boxers and boxers who get injured in a match. The bill is good for boxing.”
But as the legislation heads to a Republican majority Congress willing to follow the direction of Zuffa Boxing head and UFC CEO/President Dana White’s friend President Trump, why did California – led by a Trump enemy governor in Gavin Newsom – feel obligated to bend over backwards in supporting such an obvious special-interest cause?
“It’s important for the state of California, the biggest boxing market in the country, to respond to this,” Foster told BoxingScene. “Part of my job is to evaluate federal regulations.This could potentially change boxing business as it is done. We would be derelict if we don’t evaluate this bill.”
The problem is, they didn’t truly evaluate it. The widespread criticism of UFC business methods aired at the prior meeting were dismissed as the ramblings of an axe-to-grind mixed martial arts fighters’ association.
The eloquent questioning by video journalist Sean Zittel of White at last month’s Terence Crawford-Canelo Alvarez news conference over the hundreds of millions of dollars gained in litigation over the UFC anti-trust business practices were chided as the queries of an “asshole.”
And the concerns over how Zuffa will disclose its earnings from a specific fight card to involved fighters were derided as nonsensical, with one backer saying fighters could check TKO’s public earnings calls for such details if they wanted that information.
Regulators were involved in the crafting of the new Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act, winning the minimum pay and insurance prongs while admitting, “I’ve got news for you – this thing’s going to pass no matter what” because of White’s political connections.
Some supporting the act complain that the four sanctioning bodies – WBC, WBA, WBO and IBF – are “running a racket” by charging fighters 3 per cent of their purses for all championship bouts, adding that the departure of HBO, Showtime and ESPN from boxing during the past decade has “dried up” earnings.
They project Zuffa Boxing’s deal will become a popular draw with its $10 million in annual backing from Saudi Arabia’s boxing financier Turki Alalshikh and its streaming deal on Paramount+.
“I’m not confused – Zuffa is a business, not a charity,” one Zuffa backer said. “They’re not a charity. But this [White] is the best [combat sports] promoter in the world and he’s made more millionaires than anyone. These [Zuffa] guys will make these fighters stars, which is exactly what this sport needs when the biggest problem with it has been the exploitation of poor people.
“Zuffa is bringing in 200 to 300 new boxers, and they’re going to see if they can do some good for boxing.”
Meanwhile, others are convinced the main intent is for the Zuffa brass to further enrich themselves.
Two-division champion Danny Garcia told reporter Ariel Helwani this week that by boxing without the disclosure safeguards of the current regulations, fighters risk receiving diminished purses while subjected to excessive fees from their representatives.
“That’s highway robbery, that’s stealing,” Garcia said. “That should be a crime …corporate extortion.”
Promoter and Hall of Fame fighter Oscar De La Hoya went in deeper on his ‘Clapback Thursday’ Instagram post, shredding CSAC for its surprise meeting and vote supporting Zuffa Boxing.
“[They] have been begging for these changes, so they can fuck fighters over with their new league,” De La Hoya said. “I am so disappointed.
“No other promoter has tried to change this act. Because there’s no reason to. We believe in fair business. But you have these … scumbags who needed to change. …
“They want to eliminate all other belts, the rich boxing history that comes along with the entire sport. So much for the American way. This is a huge red flag for fighters and managers … TKO is actively changing legislation so they can openly fuck fighters over. Fighters will be stuck in a dictatorship.”
Not if you were to ask the California commission.
