Former boxing world champion Paulie Malignaggi believes that Dana White will fail in his boxing endeavors, and in a recent interview with SpinGeneie. In which he would break down Dana’s promotional tactics and the different environments between the two sports.
“How are you going to draw top fighters to your promotion when your [fighter purses] ceiling is not high enough? I don’t know how he’s going to manage it.”
“People make it like this guy can make all the great fights. But the UFC is a locked environment. You can either take the money, or you’re going to sit on the bench.
“I think [changing boxing] it’s a more difficult proposition than people think, I have seen these kinds of VIP names come into boxing, not really understanding the model.
“They come in with a big splash like Jay-Z. He did a show at Madison Square Garden. He showed up with a mink coat. He came in with a splash and then went out with a whimper.
“50 cent, as well. I’ve seen these VIP multimillionaires come into the sport and think they’re going to revolutionize the wheel. And ultimately they wind up going out the door with a kick in the ass, an embarrassed look on their face after losing millions.
“I don’t know if he’s going to be losing millions, I don’t know if he’s got Turki Alalshiek’s money to fund it, but either way it doesn’t really matter, because I don’t think the model works.”
Paulie Malignaggi has always been openly critical of Dana White and his management of the UFC, as well as his alleged attempts to monopolize the sport of MMA. He was also openly critical of Dana White’s brief stint in promoting the Crawford vs Canelo boxing match before being removed from the position.
Dana White may be in over his head in boxing.
Dana White has few friends in other combat sports due to his aggressive and demeaning nature, often even slandering his fighters. So with his attempts to promote boxing, such as his experiment with Callum Walsh on UFC Fight Pass, the most notable fighter Dana has promoted still has not made waves in the world of boxing. It may seem as though the boss of UFC and the de facto king of MMA promotion may be in over his head in the world of the sweet science.
