Zuffa Boxing will have its own belt and will NOT recognize the other bodies

6 belt era. Don’t forget The Ring belt is now an actual physical belt, and is defended.

 

So, we were already in the 5 belt era?

 

We won't know answers to questions like that for some time yet. White himself can't even answer that.

 

There are plenty of boxers around. They just don't fight often enough and when they do, they don't fight the opponents we want to see them fight.

If White can put on better matched fights and on a more regular basis, he has my attention.

 

Pretty hilarious that Dana's resolution to boxing's bureaucracy is to introduce another completely meaningless belt. This sport never fails to shoot itself in the foot.

 

If you were White, entering and trying to change boxing, what would you have done?

 

I think you are being spectacularly pessimistic. More likely this thing will sputter along and change nothing. On their first big signing, Opetaia, they have already been shown that they have no choice but to do business with the sanctioning bodies. For better or for worse, they are here to stay.

 

From a purely boxing perspective, I'd have targeted one of the classic governing bodies (WBA or WBC) + The Ring belt. Then I'd talk about how the other governing bodies are secondary, like the WBO and IBF, and say they're on different tiers. Jai already holds The Ring belt, so it'd be easier to sell this angle. Starting an entirely new belt is counterproductive, especially to casual fans who already get confused by the volume of governing bodies out there.

 

Problem is they look to be eyeing up fighters who are already reigning champs, obviously in one way this makes absolute sense as they are already well known (or should be) on the other hand it’s strange to take on fighters already tied to sanctioning bodies when your trying to diminish them and promote your own stand alone belt

Unless somewhere along the line they are thinking get them to make a statement by dropping their belts in favour of the zuffa belt? Maybe a big bag of Saudi cash could persuade some of them who hold belts but maybe haven’t had that one huge fight/payday? (Jai opetaia)
I’m only thinking out loud, not sure how likely a scenario that is

 

Many also value the elusive Lineal

 

It looks like opetai is defending his IBF on the zuffa card. I mean unless they dont allow him to walk out with it and nobody mentions it

 

Zuffa is the corporate name of the UFC.

 

TKO are the umbrella company and under it are Zuffa Boxing, UFC and WWE.

 

Why would any of the existing organizations want to sell out to White? On the other hand, why would White want to pay an extortionate amount for a belt when he can create one of his own for no cost?

 

Opetaia's team understand he will be defending his IBF belt. But White seemed like he hadn't even thought about it yet.

We'll see. Won't have to wait long - March 8th.