The UFC inked a $7.7 billion, seven-year broadcast agreement with Paramount+ last month. Hot on its heels, Dana White made waves by promoting the blockbuster Canelo-Crawford bout as the launchpad for his long-awaited Zuffa Boxing league. Just over a week later, Sport Business Journal hinted that Paramount+ was on the verge of locking in broadcast rights for the new venture. Now, that worst-kept secret in combat sports has been confirmed.

White’s Zuffa Boxing, backed by TKO Group Holdings and Saudi Arabia, has finalized a five-year broadcast deal with CBS Sports’ parent company. What does this mean? Beginning in January, fights will be aired across the U.S., Canada, and Latin America via Paramount+. While financial details for the deal remain under wraps, White has already confirmed one major departure from tradition: Zuffa Boxing will not recognize belts from any existing sanctioning bodies.

There will be two belts in Zuffa Boxing

Speaking to Max Kellerman in an interview with Ring Magazine, the 56-year-old confirmed that his boxing promotion will feature two belts. “You and I have never talked about this, but the answer is yes,” White said when asked about the existence of a Zuffa belt alongside a Ring Magazine belt. “That’s what will happen. There will be a Zuffa belt, and then there will be a Ring belt. And yes, I will not recognize any of the other sanctioning bodies.”

Right now, boxing is splintered by four major sanctioning bodies: the WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO. Each is handing out their own world titles, regional straps, and countless subcategories. The result? Champions often dodge the toughest opponents to protect their unbeaten records, leaving fans frustrated and the sport fragmented. Zuffa Boxing promises a clean break from that chaos. Under Dana White’s model, there will be only one champion. 

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The winner of the Zuffa belt won’t just hold the top spot in the promotion; they’ll earn a springboard into global exposure, including coveted slots on Riyadh Season cards and other marquee events. Meanwhile, the winner of the Ring Magazine belt will be the recognized world champion in the promotion. However, to make all this happen, the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act has to be implemented. 

Dana White unleashes on critics over changes to the Ali Act

The Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act aims to introduce a new system of Unified Boxing Organizations (UBOs) to run alongside the sport’s sanctioning bodies. It’s supported by the Association of Boxing Commissions and Muhammad Ali’s widow, Lonnie Ali. Opponents of the amendments claim that the amendments undermine the original Ali Act, which protects boxers from monopolistic promoters.

However, the owner of PowerSlap insists that his plan offers fighters more choice, not less. “That thing has been blown out of proportion, and I get it, I knew people were going to freak out because that’s what people do,” Dana White told CBS Sports. “The Muhammad Ali Act was put in place with all good intentions, but I think that it has held the business back.”

It appears Dana White has the entire plan drawn out for his new boxing league. However, it all hinges on the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act to passed in Congress. Do you think this is good for boxing or not?