White goes off on reporter for asking about trying to change Ali Act
Dana White goes off on reporter for asking about TKO trying to change Ali Reform Act
Dana White was asked about potential changes to the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act during Thursday’s TKO Boxing press conference in Las Vegas – and he was having none of it.
The exchange occurred after reporter Sean Zittel stepped to the microphone and asked a question about TKO Boxing’s lobbying effort to amend the bill.
“This fight, as you said earlier in the week, is set to be the third-highest gate in combat sports history,” Zittel said to White, in front of the crowd and stage of fighters at T-Mobile Arena. “It’s the second biggest gate you’ve promoted alongside Mayweather-McGregor. The top five dates in combat sports history come in boxing and they come in the last 10 years. So my question to you is, why then do you want to make sweeping changes to the Muhammad Ali Reform Act that is meant to protect fighters to bring about a business model that currently has your company already paying $375 million in antitrust lawsuits and has two potential pending class-action lawsuits on the way, as well?”
White declined to answer the question, citing the setting in which it was asked.
“This is obviously a long discussion,” White said. “If you want to talk to me about that, set up an interview. This isn’t about me and my business. This is about these two guys on Saturday night.”
Zittel then asked a follow-up – and didn’t get through it.
“My follow-up, Dana: Earlier this week, the California State Athletic Commission had a hearing about TKO trying to bring those changes to the Ali Act. It was postponed three months…”
White interjected, “Listen, you want to showboat right now. Set up an interview with me if this is really what you want to talk about. If you have questions for these two, ask, and you can set up an interview with me.”
“It’s America, baby. First amendment,” Zittel replied while White cut him off.
Zittel tried once more.
“Dana, my follow-up is, if TKO can’t make those changes to the Ali Act, will you still invest in the sport of boxing?” Zittel said. “Will you compete in the market?”
White cut him off again.
“Listen, if you want to be an assh*le, let’s do it in private and we can do an interview,” White said. “If you want to showboat, I get it. If you have questions for these two who are fighting on Saturday, that’s a different story.”
When Zittel declined to ask Canelo Alvarez or Terence Crawford a question thereafter, White told him to “beat it.”
What was Zittel asking about?
Zittel was asking White about the ongoing, open lobbying by TKO Boxing to amend the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act, replacing it with the Muhammad Ali Revival Act. A bill co-authored by Republican congressman Brian Jack and Democrat congresswoman Sharice Davids has been introduced, but will require multiple votes to be passed.
The amendment would allow for the operation of UBOs or Unified Boxing Organizations, which could operate outside of the bounds of a sanctioning body. It would also raise the minimum per round for boxers and be able to award its own organizational titles.
Critics of the amendment say it would allow the UFC to gain control of the market and suppress fighter pay by skirting around the current Ali Act’s constructs intended to elevate competition in the marketplace and lead to more protections for boxers.
TKO Boxing’s debut takes place Saturday at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas with a card headlined by Alvarez vs. Crawford, which streams on Netflix.
Did Zittel get his interview with White?
At the time of publication, it’s unknown if Zittel interviewed White as the UFC CEO suggested.
