Dana White’s latest venture into boxing might be about to shake up the sport in a big way, with reports suggesting Zuffa Boxing is closing in on a fight fans have wanted for years.
So far, Zuffa Boxing has only put on two shows. But given White’s long track record of promoting major events in combat sports, there’s already plenty of buzz around what he could bring to boxing. That reputation now faces a real test, as talks are swirling around what could be one of the sport’s most anticipated matchups.
According to BoxingScene, the matchup between Nate Diaz and Paulie Malignaggi has been verbally agreed, marking one of the more unexpected turns this year. The two have a history going back several years over comments Malignaggi made about Nate and Nick Diaz.
Reports link Dana White to Tyson Fury v Anthony Joshua bout on Netflix
Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua have been linked to a fight for years without ever sharing the ring. The closest they came was an early sparring session during their youth, long before their professional careers took off. That may be about to change, though.
It is being reported by BoxingScene that Dana White is planning to stage the fight on Zuffa Boxing, with Netflix likely to broadcast it. Reports suggest that Netflix will also be involved in Fury’s upcoming April fight against Arslanbek Makhmudov, adding to their growing presence in live sports.
A car accident last year left Joshua injured and cost him two close friends. However, he has since returned to training and recently released a video addressing the loss of his friends and his journey back.
Fury hasn’t fought since back-to-back defeats against Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia. Joshua’s last appearance was a knockout win over Jake Paul on another Netflix card just days before his accident.
Dana White says Zuffa Boxing has major announcements on the horizon
Dana White didn’t hold back his excitement after Zuffa Boxing 2, hinting that the promotion is ready to make some noise in the industry. Speaking at the post-fight press conference, he suggested big news is on the way.
“We have some pretty crazy announcements coming over the next few weeks,” he said, without naming any specific dates or fighters. “I’m way further in this thing than I anticipated being two shows in.”
White added: “There’s a lot going on to rock the industry – new signings, more deals, new territories. I’m telling you guys by the end of 2026, it’s going to be impressive.”
White has plenty of experience in boxing promotion already. He was involved with Tom Loeffler’s work for Callum Walsh, including a Dublin event in 2024 and also promoted last year’s Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford bout.
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