Top Rank Boxing founder calls Dana White “cancer for boxing”, warns of UFC-style fighter pay concerns

Dana White’s growing influence in boxing has drawn fresh criticism from veteran promoter Bob Arum. The UFC president entered the sport earlier this year through Zuffa Boxing and has already signed well-known fighters.

However, his plan to reshape boxing with a UFC-style structure has divided opinions across the sport.Arum believes White’s vision could change boxing in a way that hurts fighters over time. The Top Rank Boxing founder argued that removing the traditional sanctioning bodies could give too much control to one organization. He also warned that boxers could face the same pay-related issues that have been raised in the UFC.

Bob Arum questions Dana White’s vision for the future of boxing

Bob Arum did not hold back while discussing Dana White’s plans for Zuffa Boxing. The longtime promoter said White wants to remove the influence of the WBC, WBA, WBO, and IBF. According to Arum, such a move would place too much power in the hands of one promotion and could eventually reduce fighters’ earnings.

Arum claimed that the UFC has faced criticism for fighter pay over the years despite becoming one of the world’s biggest combat sports organizations.

He pointed to legal battles involving the promotion and suggested that boxing could face similar problems if the same business model is introduced. In his view, fighters may receive good money at first, but over time they could lose bargaining power and earn much less than they deserve.Dana White has openly said that Zuffa Boxing plans to recognize only its own championships and Ring titles instead of relying on the existing sanctioning bodies.

That vision has gained support through the proposed Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act. The legislation aims to modernize boxing rules and create a more unified league system. It has already passed the US House of Representatives and is now awaiting further action in the Senate.If the bill becomes law, Zuffa Boxing would no longer need approval from the traditional sanctioning bodies to stage its events. This would allow the promotion to operate in a way that is much closer to the UFC’s current model.Arum also referred to the UFC’s antitrust lawsuits. He noted that the promotion previously reached a settlement worth hundreds of millions of dollars over claims related to fighter contracts and pay. He added that another legal case is still ongoing and could result in an even larger financial penalty if the court rules against the organization.Former WBC cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew has also spoken against the proposed changes. Bellew argued that boxing should not be controlled by a single individual or organization. He said giving one promoter complete authority over the sport would damage its competitive structure and reduce the independence that boxers currently have.Despite the criticism, Dana White has shown no signs of changing direction. Zuffa Boxing has already attracted several notable fighters, including Conor Benn and Jai Opetaia.