The UFC’s enterprise practices have been below fireplace for years, and the UFC’s first Canadian champion expressed his views on issues. The fighter in query is Carlos Newton, who received the UFC welterweight belt a number of years in the past and just lately spoke at an NSAC listening to about points of the UFC antitrust case.
Whereas not particularly mentioning the brand new Muhammad Ali US Boxing Reinstatement Act, Newton’s rhetoric does describe the enterprise mannequin the UFC needs to convey to boxing.
The revised legislation was just lately voted with full help by the California Fee, and its objective is to develop to Nevada and past. All of this comes forward of the official launch of Zuffa Boxing, scheduled for 2026, and Newton mentioned he did not particularly point out the Resurrection Act, however was extra discussing the UFC-style framework that the Dana White-led boxing league is probably going trying to impose on boxing athletes (through combined martial arts martial arts),
“This has been litigated many instances in different sports activities, however someway the early state of Nevada allowed the UFC to function and nobody used an impartial sanctioning physique. Why? As a result of promoters had a selection, however this sport is supposed to be managed and controlled on behalf of the athletes.”
“To permit athletes to compete for titles freely, brazenly, and unfettered to get what the market pretty offers them for his or her accomplishments. At the moment in combined martial arts, athletes compete for promoters. That is unfair. It is not a sport.”
Zuffa Boxing’s presence looms because it polarizes with UFC’s enterprise practices
The UFC’s enterprise practices, which Newton disapproves of, had been blocked in sports activities reminiscent of boxing by earlier adjustments to the Ali Act, enacted in 2000. With UFC-related antitrust lawsuits having been within the public area for years, many combined martial arts athletes are understandably involved that Dana White’s new TKO-led boxing property makes use of a framework that’s extremely despised by many.
The unique Ali Act was enacted to make sure transparency for athletes and keep away from conflicts of curiosity that had been prevalent in boxing earlier than 2000. A brand new provision on this Revival Act effort will enable the United Boxing Group to make the most of UFC-style hierarchical concerns in its promotional efforts.
Whereas Zuffa Boxing is locked right into a media rights take care of Paramount beginning subsequent 12 months, main boxing promotions like High Rank and Premier Boxing Champions aren’t in a great place with tv offers, however the way forward for Candy Science has many speculating intensely as to what it’ll appear like.
