The Zuffa Boxing era is upon us.
Zuffa Boxing officially books debut card at UFC APEX, broadcast set for Paramount+
Zuffa Boxing is launching in January, although card details and fighters have not been confirmed
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Damon Martin is a veteran journalist and insider covering combat sports since 2003.
The new promotion launched in coordination with TKO Group Holdings (parent company to the UFC) with direct funding from Saudi Arabia is set to launch with a debut event on Jan. 23 with the card being held at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas.
The event, which was approved by the Nevada Athletic Commission, is officially listed on the calendar for January, just one night before UFC 324 lands at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The card is set to air on Paramount+ after Zuffa Boxing inked a longterm deal with the network following a similar move from the UFC.
While the card has been confirmed by both the Nevada Athletic Commission and Paramount, Zuffa Boxing hasn’t formally announced anything about the launch outside of TKO president and chief operating officer Mark Shapiro previously targeting that date when speaking about the company’s next major venture.
Zuffa Boxing is largely being run by UFC CEO Dana White and WWE president Nick Khan with TKO assuming no financial liability with Saudi Arabia providing the funding for the entire organization.
As of yet, Zuffa Boxing hasn’t confirmed any fighters signed to the roster, although the promotion has definitely been in talks with many athletes about potentially competing there.
This is also happening as the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act inches its way through Congress. The bill, which serves as an addition to the existing Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act, would allow UFC-style promotion for the sport of boxing through the launch of Unified Boxing Organizations.
If the bill passes and becomes law, promotions like Zuffa Boxing would be able to keep and maintain its own rankings, title belts along with signing fighters to exclusive contracts as well as requiring minimum per round payments for athletes as well as new health and safety protections.
With the Zuffa Boxing event scheduled on Jan. 23, the organization should start announcing fights at any time now.
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