Ryan Garcia speaks out on Dana White’s controversial entry into boxing

Mexican-American boxing star Ryan Garcia couldn’t stay silent about Dana White’s foray into his sport. With witty and bold comments, Garcia made his opinion clear. While Dana White is just dipping his toes into boxing, it’s a sport he’s always admired.

However, his career was built on creating the world’s leading MMA promotion, the UFC. Now, White’s entry into boxing has sparked a wave of reactions, and Ryan Garcia didn’t hesitate to weigh in, adding a touch of controversy to the discussion surrounding the sport.

White recently announced a boxing promotion in collaboration with TKO Group and Saudi promoter Turki Alalshikh. It’s understood that UFC President White and WWE President Nick Khan will oversee operations. While this move promises to shake things up, Ryan Garcia expressed some doubts about the master plan in a recent interview.

Ryan Garcia speaks up

Although Ryan Garcia seems excited about White’s plans, he remains cautious. On one hand, he views White and Alalshikh’s entry as a positive development for boxing—but there’s always a “but.”

In this case, Ryan Garcia questioned the payment system, saying, “If they pay like the UFC, we might not like it.” This touches on a long-standing difference between boxing and MMA payouts: boxers, particularly top-tier fighters, typically earn significantly more per fight than MMA athletes. In contrast, MMA promotions like the UFC control fighter salaries, leaving less room for negotiation.

The dilemma

On the flip side, Dana White has always been critical of traditional boxing promoters, arguing that their model only focuses on short-term profits. He believes this approach neglects long-term athletic growth and fosters wage disparities among boxers—something that clearly concerns Ryan Garcia.

White also appears to challenge promoters like Bob Arum, whom he considers inefficient. Turki Alalshikh, on the other hand, offers a forward-thinking alternative with a long-term vision.

Ryan Garcia isn’t the only one voicing concerns. Promoter Eddie Hearn also chimed in, saying, “I think it’s great for boxing. Where I disagree is the notion that boxing is broken. Boxing is in a great place—it always has been. There are always ways to improve it. But the fact that those guys want to enter boxing speaks volumes about their success.”

Boxing vs. UFC

Dana White has stepped into boxing with the intent to revolutionize it. In general, as Ryan Garcia sees it, this is for the better—but questions remain about whether salaries will change. One factor working in White’s favor is the anticipation surrounding his first event, which is rumored to feature none other than Canelo Álvarez—a major draw for fans.

Boxing is a sport steeped in history and home to some of the greatest athletes. Fighters like Ryan Garcia benefit from its current payment structure. Meanwhile, sports like UFC have gained immense popularity among fans, making it intriguing when fighters like Conor McGregor venture into boxing. Many of these athletes capitalize on their UFC fame to debut in boxing—a move largely driven by financial opportunity.