President Trump began the UFC today with a promotional ad of another president who brought boxing to the White House with contests on the South Lawn. You can watch it below.
President Roosevelt enthusiastically brought boxing, wrestling, martial arts, including Judo, to the White House. That shocked many people, but Roosevelt carried on, bringing new sports to the White House.
Roosevelt’s lifelong love of boxing started as an awkward pupil in the Harvard Boxing Club to overcome his frail, asthmatic youth.
During his presidency, he famously hosted regular, high-octane sparring sessions inside the White House, frequently stepping into the ring with military aides, professional boxers, and international dignitaries.
His boxing pastime ended abruptly when a young artillery officer hit him with a severe cross-counter punch. It smashed blood vessels in his left eye, detaching his retina, leaving him blind in one eye.
That was the end of boxing, so he took up jiu-jitsu.
The UFC just released an AI promo for the White House event featuring Theodore Roosevelt pic.twitter.com/pSEII6Jpaw
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) June 13, 2026
A brief biography:
