Dana White and Turki Al-Sheikh have unveiled the first Zuffa world championship belt ahead of Jai Opetaia vs Brandon Glanton in March.
Zuffa Boxing continue to cause disruption in the sport, as they announce the first Zuffa world championship belt.
Dana White and Zuffa boxing have pledged to ‘make boxing great again’, with a view that the sport is ‘broken’ and in desperate need for change.
They intend to replicate the UFC model that they have had so much success with in Mixed Martial Arts.
The UFC are by far the leading promotional outfit in MMA, monopolising the industry to a point where they do not work with external promotions and all fights are in house.
Zuffa Boxing have expressed that they will disregard the four established governing bodies in the sport, the WBC, WBO, WBA and IBF, as well as a desire to not co-operate with other promoters.
Unsurprisingly, this has come with extreme backlash from the traditional boxing world.
Promoter of Matchroom Boxing Eddie Hearn has publicly double downed on the traditional boxing methods that are in place, and him and Dana White are in a promoter feud currently.
Hearn claimed that the introduction is “cringe”, and that ambitious fighters will not want to fight for a belt that lacks the legacy in comparison to the WBC, WBO, WBA, and IBF belts.
The backlash is not going to apprehend Dana and Zuffa, with serious backing from Turki Al-Sheikh, they are undoubtedly going to become a long-term force in the sport.
Turki Al-Sheikh has shared a photo with Dana White and the new Zuffa Belt on Instagram.
The caption states: “Today I am happy, I met with my brothers Dana and Nick in Las Vegas, and they gifted me the first Zuffa Boxing belt,”.
“This is a huge start for Zuffa, and only the very best will be lucky enough to win this belt.
The belt is octagon shaped, a nod to the UFC.
The inaugural fight for the Zuffa belt will be Jai Opetaia vs Brandon Glanton.
Today I am happy, I met with my brothers Dana and Nick in Las Vegas and they gifted me the first Zuffa Boxing belt – made with beautiful diamonds. This is a huge start for Zuffa, and only the very best will be lucky enough to win this belt. 💪🏻🥊🔥🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/yUpVUl222S
— TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) February 19, 2026
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