Dana White and Bob Arum reply to claims UFC chief is shut to large boxing deal
Dana White and Bob Arum have each denied that UFC is shopping for Top Rank. Arum, who co-founded the boxing promotional firm 50 years in the past, nonetheless serves as its CEO.
Arum, who just lately turned 92, spent Christmas in Tokyo watching Naoya Inoue turn out to be a two-division undisputed champion on Boxing Day. After the combat, Arum joined Inoue within the ring to have a good time.
Before the combat, Arum addressed rumours of his retirement. “Total crazy s**t,” he reportedly texted boxing journalist Dan Rafael. “I have not talked about this with anyone. We are not for sale. I have no intention to retire. Having too much fun.”
White additionally responded to the studies on Instagram. “Absolutely positively not true,” he wrote on his story. “We are not buying Top Rank.”
The story featured a screenshot stating, “Dana White now has his own boxing show.” However, White dismissed this suggestion.
It’s been reported that Top Rank “is in the final due diligence stage of being sold” to Endeavor, in response to a Christmas Day tweet from Rick Glaser, who runs GlaserBoxing.com. The majority proprietor of UFC and WWE since their corporations merged earlier this yr, Endeavor may imply boxing is on Dana White’s radar.
Previously on the scene co-promoting Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs Conor McGregor in 2017, White hinted at getting into the boxing world for a number of years. However, he described it as “a broken business that is an absolute nightmare to try to fix” in 2022.
UFC Fight Pass has been the one shut hyperlink, used to broadcast 360 Promotions occasions for promoter Tom Loeffler. Glaser named him in his report, saying we should always be careful for Loeffler “to have a major role at Top Rank once the purchase takes effect”.
Tom Loeffler has posted White’s story refuting these claims, however Glaser stands by his reporting. The multi-faceted Endeavor is public and led by American businessman Ari Emanuel. After absolutely shopping for the UFC firm in 2021, it went on to merge with WWE in September 2023.
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