UFC CEO Dana White and his newly founded Zuffa Boxing venture are officially moving into the sport’s top tier, spearheading the promotion for Canelo Alvarez’s upcoming high-stakes schedule.
While the Mexican superstar is the primary focus of White’s expansion, undefeated Irish prospect Aaron McKenna has emerged as a potential future challenger, expressing his desire to face Alvarez after his own upcoming world title opportunity.
Aaron McKenna and the Zuffa Boxing transition
McKenna, 26, is slated to make his debut under the Zuffa Boxing banner on August 8 at Dublin’s 3Arena in a vacant IBF middleweight title clash against Etinosa Oliha.
The strategic shift for White follows a major partnership with Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority (GEA). Through Zuffa Boxing—a joint venture between TKO Group Holdings and Riyadh Season—White is co-promoting a multi-fight deal for Alvarez that includes a scheduled superfight against Terence Crawford.
This collaboration aims to consolidate boxing’s fragmented promotional model, leveraging the centralized approach that turned the UFC into a global powerhouse. White has been vocal about his intent to “fix” the sport, targeting 12 to 16 fight cards for the 2026 calendar year.
For Aaron McKenna, the move to Zuffa Boxing represents a significant leap toward the sport’s biggest commercial draws. The Monaghan native currently holds an unblemished 20-0 record with 10 knockouts and is coming off a massive performance on April 26, 2025.
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On that night, he secured a unanimous decision victory over former world champion Liam Smith at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with scorecards of 119-108, 118-108, and 117-109. This victory solidified his standing as a top contender, paving the way for his homecoming title fight in Dublin.
McKenna’s August 8 encounter with Etinosa Oliha is viewed as a gateway to the 168-pound division where Alvarez reigns. Despite focusing on the 160-pound IBF strap, McKenna told Sky Sports that winning a world title will “open a lot of doors” for a potential jump in weight.
While Gualtieri-Jones IBF Middleweight bout approaches elsewhere in the rankings, McKenna is looking toward the massive paydays that come with facing the sport’s elite. He noted that while Alvarez is currently occupied with other champions, he remains open to unifying titles at middleweight before seeking a move to super-middleweight.
The hurdle of Etinosa Oliha in Dublin
Before any superfight materializes, McKenna must first navigate the threat of the 27-year-old Italian Etinosa Oliha. Known as “El Chapo,” Oliha brings an undefeated 22-0 record and former IBO world middleweight title experience to the 3Arena.
The bout marks McKenna’s professional debut on Irish soil after years of building his career in the United States and the United Kingdom. Victory would grant him the inaugural Zuffa Boxing middleweight title, a central piece of White’s plan to revitalize the division with a fresh face.
Canelo Alvarez and the Riyadh Season deal
Alvarez is currently operating under a four-fight agreement with Riyadh Season that has fundamentally altered his career trajectory. His next confirmed outing is a massive defense of his undisputed super-middleweight championship against super-welterweight king Terence Crawford.
Scheduled for September 13, 2025, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, the bout is expected to generate one of the highest live gates in boxing history. This event will be the first combat sports card held at the stadium and will stream worldwide on Netflix without a pay-per-view upcharge.
The fight carries immense financial and competitive weight, with reports suggesting Alvarez’s payout could sit between $100 million and $150 million. While some, such as Mbilli presents challenge for Canelo according to certain analysts, the immediate focus remains on the Crawford superfight.
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Crawford is moving up two weight classes to challenge at the 168-pound limit, aiming to add Alvarez’s WBO, WBA, and WBC belts to his legendary resume. Crawford himself has suggested that Canelo Alvarez may not quit boxing regardless of the result, given the lucrative nature of the current Saudi-backed landscape.
The competitive hierarchy under Zuffa Boxing
Dana White’s involvement has drawn sharp criticism from rival promoters, most notably Oscar De La Hoya. The Golden Boy Promotions founder recently labeled White a “trust fund baby of boxing,” arguing that White is being handed major fights on a “silver platter” without having negotiated them himself.
Despite the friction, White remains committed to his 2026 roadmap. He expects to finalize a television or streaming deal that would see boxing return to a more consistent “glory days” broadcasting schedule, similar to the UFC’s frequent output.
The impact of the September 13 Allegiant Stadium card
The outcome of the September 13 clash in Las Vegas will dictate the future of the 168-pound landscape. If Alvarez retains his undisputed titles, the list of potential challengers—including WBO champion Hamzah Sheeraz and the rising McKenna—will grow longer. For White and Turki Alalshikh, the objective is to produce the highest possible caliber of matchups.
White has admitted he generally dislikes stadium shows, but he is hoping the scale of the Las Vegas event will change his perspective on the format.
Should McKenna succeed in his Dublin homecoming on August 8, the promotional engine of TKO Group Holdings will likely pivot toward positioning him for a major unification or a step-up fight in early 2026.
While Aaron McKenna remains a “less likely” immediate option for Alvarez according to industry reports, his association with White provides the promotional leverage necessary to turn a call-out into a reality.
The 26-year-old native of Ireland is clearly taking every opportunity to ensure his career trajectory stays on a collision course with the sport’s biggest names.
