Credit: X
Chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority Turki Alalshikh has joined hands with UFC President Dana White and TKO to launch the new boxing league which will resemble UFC. Alalshikh has also predicted that the new promotion will dominate the sport. In a conversation with The Ring, Alalshikh disclosed White will lead the promotion as CEO and the UFC boss will be tasked to impose UFC’s formula to boxing and form the new league that will eventually take over the sport.
Alalshikh showed faith in White and announced him the CEO of the new organisation. He also added that the Saudi Crown Prince has supported him to form the league. "First of all, he's not only the CEO now for UFC, he's the CEO of the new company. Also, second, I cannot do anything without the support of my Crown Prince. First of all, the king. God bless him, and the Crown Prince, our leader. He supports us in everything we have,” Alalshikh said.
Paulie Malignaggi reacts on the collaboration
Former Italian-American boxer Paulie Malignaggi has expressed his discontent to the collusion between both Alashikh and White. White has often been accused of not paying enough to fighters, unlike boxers who get paid handsomely in Saudi Arabia. Boxers are usually given the liberty to decide who they can confront but in UFC, White comes up with the rule for fighters not having the chance to duck each other if they want to advance.
“Why would you align with a guy like Dana White, who has such a bad reputation for being a pig with the way he pays fighters? You’re going to bring in a pig like this who has this reputation? I’ve met a lot of MMA fighters. He’s a dishonest prick and so on and so forth. So I’m just going by what the people in that world have told me. Now, I’ve dealt with Dana myself. He knows how to kiss ass,” remarked Malignaggi.
