Zuffa Boxing, which is backed by boxing mogul Turki Al-Sheikh and UFC boss Dana White, will cooperate with Paramount in future. The US company will become the promotion’s exclusive streaming and TV partner from 2026.
Paramount has announced a partnership with the promotion Zuffa Boxing. From January, the US media company will become the exclusive streaming and TV partner of the promotion, which was founded in June and is backed by boxing mogul Turki Al-Sheikh and UFC boss Dana White. The contract begins with twelve boxing matches, which will be broadcast by “Paramount+” in 2026. The partnership is to be further expanded in the following years.
Boxing and UFC on Paramount+
It is also conceivable that selected boxing events will eventually be broadcast by CBS, which is also owned by Paramount, and other linear Paramount platforms. CBS is the most-watched television network in the United States. Paramount+ and CBS will also be the exclusive home of the UFC beginning in January. The companies announced a seven-year deal last month that will bring the UFC a total of nearly $8 billion.
Zuffa Boxing was founded by “TKO” and Sela, a leading entertainment company from Saudi Arabia. The company is led by Dana White, President and CEO of the UFC, Turki Al-Sheikh, Chairman of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority and owner of “The Ring”, Dr. Rakan AlHarthy, Managing Director and CEO of Sela, and Nick Khan, President of the WWE and also a board member of TKO.
Zuffa hosted Canelo vs. Crawford
“The partnership with Paramount reinforces our vision to redefine the way viewers consume boxing matches,” explained Al-Sheikh. “More fight fans will now have access to some of the most exciting boxers. We’ve seen proof that the appetite is there. This is the future of live boxing coverage and will ensure that the sport continues to thrive.”
Zuffa Boxing entered the world stage of boxing earlier this month when it hosted the Undisputed fight between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford in Las Vegas. Crawford defeated Alvarez unanimously on points and the super middleweight clash attracted more than 41 million viewers worldwide on Netflix.
Partners Zuffa Boxing, based in Las Vegas, and Paramount aim to showcase up-and-coming talent, challengers and world champions to a wide audience. Announcements about Zuffa Boxing’s first show on Paramount+ will be made at a later date, according to reports.
Paramount’s return to boxing
“I’m looking forward to presenting great boxing events to a global audience,” said Dana White. “Millions of boxing fans will now be able to watch exciting fights featuring up-and-coming boxers as well as the sport’s biggest stars. Paramount will be the place to go for UFC and boxing fans to see the biggest fights in combat sports.”
The deal with Zuffa Boxing also marks Paramount’s return to boxing after its subsidiary “Showtime” withdrew from the sport at the end of 2023. Showtime broadcast boxing matches on premium cable television and pay-per-view for 37 years. However, Paramount closed its sports division as part of a massive restructuring at the broadcaster.
Text: Frank Schwantes