Frank Warren threatens $1 billion legal battle with Saudi Arabia’s Sela and TKO over Zuffa Boxing

A $1 billion lawsuit that holds massive implications for the future of boxing is bubbling beneath the surface.

Queensberry Promotions chief Frank Warren is preparing legal action against Saudi Arabian state-owned entertainment and hospitality company Sela and TKO Group Holdings, the American media conglomerate that owns UFC and WWE.

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TKO signed a multi-year partnership to form Zuffa Boxing last year, with the financial backing of Sela and Saudi powerbroker Turki Alalshikh.

According to the Telegraph, Warren alleges that Sela and TKO went behind his back to launch the joint venture and breached contracts they had signed with him in doing so.

Queensberry are understood to have sent “letters before action” to Sela and TKO, warning both companies of its intention to sue for breach of contract.

The Hall of Fame promoter is reportedly seeking $1 billion (£739, 946) in lost income, arguing that Queensberry would have made the sum had its contracts been honoured.

Queensberry claims to have signed an exclusive deal with Sela in September 2023 to provide boxing services, which, in turn, made the Saudis privy to its industry expertise as they looked to break into boxing.

Warren’s company says it also came to a separate agreement with TKO that granted the sports giant access to Queenberry’s online data, including details of its contract with Sela.

Queensberry alleges that TKO and Sela used privileged information to go behind its back to ink a five-year deal that breaches the terms of both contracts.

Sela adamantly denies the claims.

A spokesperson for the company told the Telegraph: “We are disappointed by the unfounded claims brought by Queensberry and Frank Warren.

“We reject them in their entirety and are confident that the facts will fully vindicate our position.”

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talkSPORT.com has approached Warren, TKO and Queensberry for comment.

There has been no response at the time of writing.

Zuffa Boxing’s mission

UFC CEO Dana White, WWE President Nick Khan and Chairman of the Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority Alalshikh are at the helm of Zuffa Boxing, which aims to be the sports’ ultimate disruptor.

The company is hoping to introduce a single world championship – the Zuffa belt – to replace the four major sanctioning bodies (WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO) that currently govern boxing.

Zuffa recently signed an exclusive $500m (£370m) five-year deal with streaming giant Paramount + to broadcast its fights.

They also flexed their financial firepower last week by signing Conor Benn to a one-fight deal, reportedly worth $15m.

Zuffa currently has 50 fighters signed to its roster, and there is no intention to stop there.