So, boxing has a league now. Backed by Saudi boxing powerhouse His Excellency Turki Alalshikh and spearheaded by Dana White, the new TKO boxing promotion isn’t just another addition to the sport. It’s here to shake things up. Unlike the traditional minor-to-major league hierarchy, this league perhaps aims to disrupt the landscape entirely. Unsurprisingly, the traditional power brokers – sanctioning bodies and promoters – are treading cautiously.
That’s the challenge with change. It unapologetically seeks to alter the status quo. But if TKO Boxing is serious about fixing the sport, what are the fundamental problems that need addressing? Some view White and Alalshikh’s entry as a long-overdue shift that could revolutionize boxing. But which issues demand immediate attention to make the sport more fan-friendly, eliminate unnecessary barriers, and finally deliver the high-profile fights fans clamor for?
Too Many Belts, Too Much Confusion
Boxing’s title system is a maze. The WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO all crown their own champions. Add in regional variations – continental, intercontinental, and others – and you get a never-ending list of titleholders. Even The Ring Magazine, owned by HE Turki Alalshikh, has its own championship belt. Across 17 weight classes, the number of ‘world champions’ can reach 50 or more at any given time. Outside the A-list champions, even hardcore fans struggle to name every titleholder in each division, forget the No.1 ranked contenders.
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Dave Shopland/Shutterstock 12904393d Tyson Fury during weigh in Tyson Fury v Dillian Whyte, WBC Heavyweight Championship, Weigh In, Boxing, BOXPARK Wembley, London, UK – 22 Apr 2022 Tyson Fury v Dillian Whyte, WBC Heavyweight Championship, Weigh In, Boxing, BOXPARK Wembley, London, UK – 22 Apr 2022 PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTXHUNxGRExMLTxCYPxROMxBULxUAExKSAxONLY Copyright: xDavexShopland/Shutterstockx 12904393d
For casual fans, this complexity is a nightmare. Fighter A is the WBC Champion, Fighter B is the WBO Champion, Fighter C holds the WBA Regular belt, and Fighter D is the WBA Super Champion. So who is the real champion? Even within the same organization, multiple tiers – super, regular, and interim – often dilute the significance of world titles.
Contrast this with the UFC. Each division has a single champion. If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best – simple and effective. This clarity has been instrumental in the UFC’s rise in popularity. Dana White has already hinted that TKO Boxing will adopt a more straightforward championship model. They may eliminate competing organizations and establish one recognized world champion per division. The move could potentially restore prestige to titles and make it easier for fans to follow the sport.
Politics Blocking Big Fights
One of boxing’s biggest frustrations is the difficulty in making the best fights happen. The sport is fragmented among promotional giants like Top Rank, PBC, Matchroom, and Golden Boy. Each manages their own fighters and often refuses to collaborate. The result? Dream matchups are delayed for years or never happen at all.
Take Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao, a fight that began negotiations in 2009 but didn’t happen until 2015. A similar drawn-out saga surrounded Terence Crawford vs. Errol Spence Jr. More recently, Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua has been stalled repeatedly due to promotional and broadcasting conflicts.
LAS VEGAS, NV – MAY 02: Floyd Mayweather Jr. throws a left at Manny Pacquiao during their welterweight unification championship bout on May 2, 2015 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
With Dana White’s centralized matchmaking and Saudi Arabia’s financial backing, TKO boxing could eliminate these roadblocks. The UFC model forces fighters to take the best matchups or risk losing ranking and opportunities. Rather than relying on external promoters, if TKO boxing signs fighters directly, it could guarantee top-tier matchups without the politics that have plagued boxing for decades.
Fighters Going Years Without Fighting
Stalling momentum and frustrating fans, many top boxers compete only once or twice a year. Despite being a reigning heavyweight champion, Tyson Fury fought just once in 2023. Terence Crawford had only one fight in 2022 before his undisputed bout with Errol Spence Jr. in 2023. The pattern continues.
In boxing, long negotiations over money, broadcasting rights, and promotional conflicts delay fights for months. Tied to exclusive network deals with ESPN, DAZN, or previously Showtime, fighters often have to wait for the right broadcast slot or approval from the network. Many boxers opt to sit out and wait for a mega payday rather than staying active.
UFC fighters, on the other hand, are contractually obligated to compete regularly. TKO Boxing could introduce a binding agreement. Thus, keeping fans engaged and the sport in the spotlight, fighters will compete multiple times per year. A streamlined matchmaking process means fewer prolonged negotiations.
Corrupt & Inconsistent Judging
Boxing’s credibility has been repeatedly tarnished by controversial scorecards. Fans haven’t forgotten the first fight between Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin. Many believe Golovkin won. The fight was scored a draw. In particular, judge Adalaide Byrd’s 118-110 card for Canelo sparked outrage. Some five years before, despite Pacquiao’s dominance, Tim Bradley won a shocking split decision. Even the WBO reviewed the fight and admitted the scoring was questionable.
2-27-18 Los Angeles. CA. .Middleweight World Champion Canelo Alvarez arrives in LA press conference PK Pressekonferenz on his upcoming rematch fight with and WBC/WBA/IBF/IBO Middleweight World Champion Gennady ÒGGGO Golovkin Tuesday. The two will return to T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas for a highly anticipated rematch on Cinco de Mayo. Canelo vs. GGG 2 will take place Saturday, May 5 and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at a special time of 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT. /LA DailyNews/SCNG Boxing 2018: Canelo vs Golovkin 2 Presser – ZUMAbl1_ 20180227_zaf_bl1_018 Copyright: xGenexBlevinsx
Judging in boxing lacks transparency and consistency. Criteria exist – effective aggression, clean punches, and ring generalship – but the problem is judges often weigh them differently. Some prioritize volume punching, while others favor power shots, leading to unpredictable and often unfair results.
Perhaps TKO could introduce a well-defined scoring system to standardize judging criteria. Other potential reforms may include live scoring displays after each round to eliminate suspenseful but dubious final decisions. Judges to undergo performance reviews. In case of repeated poor decisions, they may face suspensions or removals. Similar to VAR in soccer, video reviews for controversial rounds or knockdowns could be introduced. To avoid repeated biases against or in favor of certain fighters, rotating judges may become a norm.
Poor Promotion & Lack of Star Power
Boxing struggles to build and sustain mainstream superstars. Outside of Canelo Alvarez, Tyson Fury, and Gervonta Davis, few fighters have true crossover appeal. In contrast, the UFC has consistently produced an array of stars, one after another.
Why? Boxing lacks a unified promotional and branding system. Fighters are often left to market themselves. Thus, inconsistent storytelling and weak fan engagement follows. Many boxers also receive little media training, making it harder for them to connect with audiences. With better branding, consistent schedules, and media-driven promotion, TKO boxing could finally bridge the gap between boxing and MMA in terms of superstar appeal.
While TKO boxing’s exact structure remains speculative, its potential to reshape the sport is undeniable. Eliminating roadblocks such as redundant titles, fighter inactivity, and erroneous judging could revitalize boxing for a new generation of fans.
Which of these issues do you think should be TKO Boxing’s top priority?
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