TKO Group Holdings, the subsidiary of Endeavor Group and owner of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), is reportedly venturing into yet another combat sport. TKO is set to launch a boxing league with the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund.
According to The New York Times, the new boxing league is ˇ°closeˇ± to creation and will have ˇ°up-and-coming boxers tied exclusively to the league.ˇ±
Details, including the name or launch date of the new boxing league, are yet unclear. TKO, while refusing to admit or deny the news, said in a statement that it will "evaluate any unique and compelling opportunities that may fit well with our business portfolio and create incremental value for our shareholders."
Endeavor Group created TKO Holdings in 2023 as part of a merger between WWE and Zuffa, the parent company of the UFC. According to Forbes, as of 2024, the UFC and WWE are the two most valuable combat sports promotions.
Given their expertise in both wrestling and MMA, boxing should come as a natural extension to TKO. Adding to this is the fact that, back in 2017, UFC CEO Dana White, who is now a board member of TKO Group, had proposed the creation of Zuffa Boxing.
TKO COO Mark Shapiro has also expressed interest in boxing and said that it was something the company would do organically.
In December, he had hinted at having a partner from the Middle East to launch a new boxing league.
Saudi Arabia also comes as a natural partner for TKO as the kingdom has been hosting both WWE and UFC events in recent years.? ?
The relationship between the two sides has only strengthened, and earlier this week, WWE announced that the 2026 Royal Rumble would be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
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