Zuffa Boxing contact British Boxing Board of Control in hope of legitimizing new belt
Zuffa BoxingA representative of Zuffa Boxing has contacted the British Boxing Board of Control about the possibility of the recently created Zuffa belt being recognized in the UK.
It’s been a publicity-heavy period for Dana White’s organization with Turki Alalshikh last week unveiling the new belt, which will first be contested at cruiserweight by Jai Opetaia and Brandon Glanton on March 8, and then the surprising signing of Conor Benn.
Benn, who leaves behind Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing, is targeting a shot at newly minted WBC welterweight beltholder Ryan Garcia but there has been speculation that his next fight will be for the new Zuffa title instead.
“I’ve had verbal conversations with the UK representative of Zuffa Boxing about the possibility of the belt being recognized here in the future,” the General Secretary of the BBBoC Robert Smith told BoxingScene. “It was just a conversation at this stage, no formal request was made.”
As things stand, the BBBoC only recognizes belts from the WBC, WBA, WBO, IBF and the IBO. Lesser bodies have seen their requests to sanction fights under the governance of the BBBoC rejected in the past.
However, White has made it clear that Zuffa is not here to just be another sanctioning body. As a promotional powerhouse, with designs on making their belt the only belt worth fighting for, the desire for greater control is clear.
“We’re with the five sanctioning bodies and there are no plans to add any more,” Smith said. “But should we get a formal request from Zuffa, alongside the evidence and further information that we would require, then [recognizing the belt] is something that we could consider.
“But the belts do not alter who is in control of the event. Belts are from sanctioning bodies, we remain the governing body. The Board regulates the [event]. That won’t change.”
Matt Christie, a lifelong fight fan, has worked in boxing for more than 20 years. He left Boxing News in 2024 after 14 years, nine of which were spent as editor-in-chief. Before that, he was the producer of weekly boxing show “KOTV.” Now the co-host of “The Opening Bell” podcast and regularly used in the UK as a pundit, Matt was named as the Specialist Correspondent of the Year at the prestigious Sports Journalism Awards in 2021, which was the seventh SJA Award he accepted during his stint in the hot seat at Boxing News. The following year, he was inducted into the British Boxing Hall of Fame. He is a member of the BWAA and has been honored several times in their annual writing awards.