Zuffa Boxing Is Coming: TKO’s Bold Play to Disrupt the Fight Game — Netflix Superfights, $10M Paydays & Ali Act 2.0

TKO Group Holdings — the combat sports powerhouse behind UFC and WWE — is stepping into the boxing ring with serious heat. The company just confirmed full-scale plans for a new promotion called Zuffa Boxing, officially launching in early 2026 and funded by none other than Saudi Arabia.

But before the ropes are even tightened, TKO’s “fourth tentpole sports asset” will make a splash with the Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford superfight on Sept. 13, airing live on Netflix from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas — with no extra cost to subscribers.

💥 "We are going all in here." – TKO President Mark Shapiro

During this week’s investor call, TKO COO Mark Shapiro laid out how the promotion is structured, how it will be profitable from day one, and what changes are coming to U.S. boxing laws to make Zuffa Boxing’s UFC-style format possible.

💰 Saudi-Funded Superfights, $10M Payouts, and No-Risk Revenue

Zuffa Boxing is being co-developed with Saudi sports entertainment company Sela, and according to Shapiro, TKO has zero financial liability. Instead, TKO earns:

• A $10M+ managing fee per year
• Media rights negotiation fees
• Promotional fees per superfight
• OnLocation fees for hospitality and live experiences
• Undercard placement of Zuffa fighters on marquee cards

TKO expects to net $10M per super fight alone — with 2 to 3 mega-events per year being the goal. That’s UFC/WWE-style economics on boxing’s grandest stages.

📺 TV & Streaming Deal Incoming

Shapiro confirmed that a media deal is nearly finalized:

“We’re in the home stretch… we’ve had significant interest from linear and DTC platforms,” he said.

Early events will likely stream globally, with Saudi-funded fights like Canelo vs. Crawford used as leverage to lock in long-term partnerships.

📜 A New Ali Act for a New Era

To make Zuffa Boxing work legally under a UFC-style promotion model, TKO is backing The Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act — now introduced in Congress. It’s bipartisan, co-sponsored by:

• Rep. Brian Jack (R-GA)
• Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KS) — a former MMA fighter

“We are not changing the original Ali Act,” said UFC COO Lawrence Epstein. “We’re adding language to allow unified promotional organizations.”

If passed, the legislation would legitimize Zuffa Boxing’s model — giving boxers more choice and structure while modernizing an industry plagued by fragmentation and politics.

📅 What’s Next?

• Sept. 13, 2025: Canelo vs. Crawford on Netflix
• Q1 2026: Zuffa Boxing’s full launch
• Ali Act 2.0: Pending House and Senate approval

🥊 MainEvent.News | Backstage Take:

Zuffa Boxing isn’t just a new name — it’s a full-on regime change for the sweet science. With Saudi cash, Netflix exposure, and UFC-style control, TKO is turning boxing into a business-first empire. And the old guard should be shaking. If the new Ali Act passes, this isn’t just a pivot — it’s a hostile takeover with zero financial risk and all the upside.

The only question now: will traditional boxing promotions adapt… or get steamrolled?

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