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.
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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.”