Bold claim: a potential $1 billion lawsuit could reshape boxing as we know it. Three of the sport’s biggest promoters—Queensberry (Frank Warren’s UK outfit), Sela (Saudi-backed), and TKO Group Holdings (U.S. combat sports giant)—are nearing a landmark legal clash that could redefine the game’s future.
What’s happening? Queensberry has sent formal legal notices—“letters before action”—to both Sela and TKO, accusing them of breaching contracts. The Telegraph reports that Queensberry seeks up to $1 billion in lost income after Sela and TKO launched Zuffa Boxing, a new promotional entity promising to disrupt the market and overshadow competitors.
Key contract claims: Queensberry says it secured an exclusive deal with Sela in September 2023 to provide boxing expertise as Sela aimed to enter the sport. In December 2023, Sela staged Tyson Fury’s heavyweight clash with Francis Ngannou in Riyadh, an event Queensberry says violated their agreement. Queensberry also contends it signed a contract with TKO to access its online data, which allegedly included information about Sela’s contract.
Zuffa Boxing timeline: TKO and Sela announced a five-year partnership in March 2025, followed by the formation of Zuffa Boxing three months later. Queensberry maintains this deal was struck behind its back and breached the contracts Queensberry had with both TKO and Sela, costing them as much as $1 billion in potential earnings.
Zuffa Boxing’s business push: Co-founded by Dana White (CEO of UFC, owned by TKO) and Turki Alalshikh (chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority), Zuffa has public faces including WWE’s Nick Khan. The venture has landed a media rights deal with Paramount+, reportedly worth $100 million per year and covering 12 fight cards annually. It has also signed notable fighters, including Conor Benn (recently with Matchroom Sport) and IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia, and it currently boasts a roster of about 93 boxers, largely based in the United States.
Strategic ambitions: Zuffa positions itself as a market disruptor, with plans to establish a boxing league, create its own title, and pursue reforms to boxing legislation—specifically the Professional Boxer Health and Safety Act and the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act.
Public statements: Turki Alalshikh stated in a video on X that he believes this league will rapidly overpower the competition. “I trust this league, in a short time, will crush everything.”
Reaction and responses: Queensberry declined to comment. A Sela spokesperson told The Athletic they had no comment beyond their prior statement to The Telegraph, in which they rejected Queensberry’s claims and expressed confidence that the facts would vindicate Sela. TKO had not responded by publication
Context and implications: If the case proceeds, it could set important precedents about exclusive agreements, data access, and cross-partner promotions in modern boxing, especially as international interests and media investments deepen. The outcome may influence fighter signings, event planning, and how competing promoters collaborate or clash in the future.
Questions to consider: Do exclusive promotional deals and data-sharing arrangements create fair market competition, or do they stifle innovation? Should new regulatory reforms be pursued to balance growth with fighter welfare and competitive integrity? How might this lawsuit affect fan access to high-stakes boxing events and the overall economics of the sport?
