UFC CEO Dana White acknowledges the respect he has for Francis Ngannou for going 10 rounds with heavyweight boxing champ Tyson Fury, but maintains his skepticism towards the boxing industry and dismisses the idea of getting into the boxing promotion business.
UFC CEO Dana White recently expressed his admiration for Francis Ngannou’s performance against Tyson Fury during an appearance on Donald Trump Jr.’s Triggered video podcast. White commended Ngannou for lasting 10 rounds with the heavyweight boxing champion, acknowledging the impressive feat. Despite his previous dismissal of the fight as a “gimmick,” White now showed respect for Ngannou’s decision to participate.
However, White remained diplomatic, accepting the idea that fighters may choose to cross over to boxing for lucrative paydays. He emphasized that everyone must do what is best for themselves and their families when it comes to earning money. Although White wasn’t keen on providing boxing opportunities for UFC fighters, he agreed with Trump Jr.’s assessment that the boxing industry was “broken.” He concluded that dealing with boxing promoters was a cumbersome task that he had no interest in pursuing.
Trump Jr. proposed that the corrupt nature of boxing could be attributed to its pay structure, which favors the fighters with a greater share of profits compared to promoters. In contrast, the UFC operates with a different financial model, where fighters earn around 15-20% of the revenue, and the promotion handles additional production costs.
White agreed with Trump Jr.’s analysis, stating that building a sustainable business was crucial. He contrasted the success of the NFL, NBA, and MLB, which managed to create thriving enterprises out of football, basketball, and baseball, respectively. According to White, this achievement was lacking in boxing, hindering its potential for growth and perpetuating a lack of control and corruption.
In conclusion, Dana White recognized Francis Ngannou’s impressive performance against Tyson Fury while discussing it on Donald Trump Jr.’s podcast. He revealed an initial skepticism of the fight but ultimately praised Ngannou’s determination. White also acknowledged the potential for fighters to pursue boxing opportunities but expressed his disinterest in venturing into the boxing promotion business due to the industry’s perceived flaws.