Dana White’s TKO Boxing Pay Structure Sparks Fan Backlash
UFC CEO Dana White’s new boxing promotion, TKO Boxing, is facing heavy criticism over its controversial fighter payment structure.
Backed by Saudi Arabia’s Turki Alalshikh, TKO Boxing aims to shake up the sport—but its financial model is drawing fire.
While TKO’s pay scale is higher than lower-tier fighters in boxing, it’s far below what top boxers like Canelo and Fury earn—often in the tens of millions.
Fans took to social media, slamming the pay structure. One comment read: "Even if a champion sells 1M PPVs, they only get $750K? That’s robbery!"
Critics fear that TKO Boxing will follow the same restrictive UFC contract policies, limiting fighter pay and freedom.
Some fans are also questioning Saudi Arabia’s involvement in combat sports, given past concerns about sportswashing.
With its first events set for 2026, will TKO adjust its fighter pay? Or will it follow Dana White’s UFC model despite backlash?
Do you think Dana White’s TKO Boxing will succeed with this model? Drop your thoughts in the comments!