Mike Tyson believes Dana White will be great for boxing as he won’t be exploited by fighters making huge demands.
UFC president White announced he would be making the move to the squared circle promotion with new ‘TKO’ boxing league alongside Saudi chief Turki Alalshikh.
He plans to shake up the sport and use his successes from his MMA promotion to try and build a huge brand in the sport.
News of his venture has received mixed reaction, with the likes of boxing promoters Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren backing his move.
And heavyweight icon Tyson, a friend of White, believes his stern approach to negotiations will see him make a huge impact on the sport.
He said in an interview with Sports Illustrated: “I think he’s going to do a good job.
“He’s not going to let the boxers take advantage of him.
“They all need that thing that they all need now, a trust fund.
“And I don’t think he’s going to let them manipulate him, so he will do a good job.”
Tyson has been a regular advocate of seeing White make the leap into the sport.
He has effectively monopolised the sport of MMA, and the American entrepreneur will hope he can mirror his glory in boxing.
It will be difficult given the established structure in the sport, with four recognised governing bodies forming the world rankings right now.
But White alongside Alalshikh will hope they can revolutionise the sport and create a hugely popular promotion.
Hints have been released by both that their first show could well be headlined by the US mega-fight between Terence Crawford and Canelo Alvarez in September.
Staging an event of such magnitude would be a huge coup, given both are established champions and pillars of the pound-for-pound rankings.
The final structure is still being determined but it is expected they will mirror the UFC format with bigger cards and quicker intervals between fights.
But Tyson is open to giving White advice and believes he needs to appoint a matchmaker to handle the fights.
He added: “Listen I would love to give him some insights and everything.
“He has also given me some insights. I think he’s going to do a good job I think so, I really do.
“If he gets the fights, the name of the game is to get the fighters and get the most money for the least risk, you know.
“He needs a great matchmaker, that’s what no one has now.
“They don’t know how to put great matches together, where the fight’s going to be exciting.”
