LAS VEGAS – Dana White couldn't conceal his satisfaction when questioned about the circulating rumors of Showtime's potential exit from the boxing scene.
The connection between UFC CEO White and Showtime Sports President Stephen Espinoza has been marked by turbulence over the years, even though they collaborated on the highly lucrative boxing match between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor.
Speculation emerged on social media, notably from analyst "Raf," who asserted that Showtime intends to discontinue its involvement in boxing after 2024. In response, White seemed to revel in the prospect of Showtime Boxing's potential demise.
Dana White's response was dripping with sarcasm when asked about Showtime potentially leaving the boxing business 😬 pic.twitter.com/WOihsaCuSE
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) September 27, 2023
“That’s incredibly unfortunate,” White sarcastically told MMA Junkie and other reporters. “Production of that show was fantastic. The guy who runs Showtime Boxing is a great human being. It’s unfortunate to hear this. F*ck Espinoza, and it’s about time that sh*tty product is off the air.”
Showtime’s departure from boxing would leave a big gap in the market, and with White teasing the launch of Zuffa Boxing throughout the years, could the UFC CEO finally enter the market?
“You never know,” White said. “Sounds good to me.”