Roy Jones Jr. blasts Zuffa Boxing model

Roy Jones Jr. doesn’t see a need for boxing to follow the UFC’s model. 

The UFC’s parent company, TKO Group, has entered the world of pugilism with Zuffa boxing. UFC head honcho Dana White and Zuffa are currently pushing for revisions to the Muhammad Ali Act, enacted in 2000 to protect fighters from exploitation. White aims to create a Unified Boxing Organization that would bring boxing under a central banner, akin to the UFC for MMA. 

However, the likes of Nico Ali Walsh, Oscar De La Hoya and Jones Jr. are actively lobbying against White’s proposal. Jones argues that Zuffa’s structure will eventually kill fighters’ individuality and earning power.

“If they do what they are doing right now, our sport is over in this country,” Jones told FightHype. “You don’t have no more personality. You don’t have no more style. You don’t have no more individualism. You can’t be an individual no more. You belong. You’re just a sheep.”

Time to Wake Up

While the Zuffa model promises consistency, boxers at the highest level typically earn more than MMA fighters of the same level. Jones notes that UFC fighters like Conor McGregor and Francis Ngannou earned more in boxing than in their entire UFC career. Jones further believes that Zuffa’s model would give the promotion unchecked power.

“Some of your athletes left your sport, came to boxing, and made more in one fight or two fights than they made their whole career with you,” Jones said. “If Conor McGregor made more money in one fight than he made his whole career, why do I want your model in my game?... If they don’t like you or you say something against them, you cannot be world champion because they don’t like you and you got nobody to fight for your side. Y’all better wake up.”