A promising fighter has gone in a different direction following weeks of speculation.
Dana White may have committed his long-term future to the UFC, but the leading MMA promotion won’t be his only priority in the new year.
The UFC president’s long-awaited venture into boxing will finally come to fruition in the coming weeks.
White and TKO’s plan for Zuffa Boxing is defined by several key principles that they will implement in 2026.
Along with putting on competitive fights, they want to sign young fighters and build them into stars, though one of their targets has slipped past them.
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Do you think Dana White’s involvement in boxing will make the sport better?
Vito Mielnicki Jr. snubs signing with Zuffa Boxing after weeks of speculation
Eddie Hearn questioned Zuffa Boxing’s ‘lame’ launch due to the lack of news or announcements regarding the promotion’s launch early in 2026.
While things have remained quiet on that front for some time, more signings and targeted names for their roster are now emerging.
One name that has been linked with signing to Zuffa Boxing for several weeks was recently revealed to have changed direction despite all of the speculation.
Vito Mielnicki Jr. recently won the vacant WBO Global middleweight title when competing on the same card as David Benavidez’s win over Anthony Yarde at ‘Ring IV: Night of Champions’.
As a 23-year-old American with a 22-1-1 record, Mielnicki Jr. fits the profile of the kind of fighters that Dana White will be looking to bring in.
However, it was made official on Monday that he has signed to Sampson Boxing instead, with BoxingScene writing the following report about the negotiations with Zuffa Boxing.
“It was believed at the time that Mielnicki would become among the first to sign with the newly formed Zuffa Boxing,” Jake Donovan wrote. “However, BoxingScene has learned that, while terms were discussed, Mielnicki and his team never officially signed the written offer.”Â
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Zuffa Boxing have reportedly recently signed a list of names
Vito Mielnicki Jr. may not be joining Zuffa Boxing’s roster but the promotion has reportedly acquired some different names.
A report from Dan Rafael on X stated that the following fighters have all joined the roster ahead of the promotion’s debut event:
- Jose Valenzuela: 140lbs – 14-3
- Radzhab Butaev: 147lbs – 15-1-1
- Justin Viloria: 130lbs – 11-0
- Eridson Garcia: 135lbs – 23-1
- Vito Mielnicki: 160lbs – 22-1
- Misael Rodriguez: 168lbs – 15-0
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