Dana White has responded forcefully to rumors suggesting he's been removed from his role in promoting the upcoming Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford fight. The UFC president didn't mince words when addressing speculation about his involvement in the highly anticipated boxing match scheduled for September 13.
"I'll tell you what's incredible, man. There's a lot of fucked up stuff in boxing, but nobody says shit. I mean, nobody talks. It's the most amazing thing. If we sign a deal, I have to grab the damn phone right away and say, 'Hey, we just...!' Because there will be 90,000 people talking about it. But these guys don't say anything. I'm promoting the fight," White stated firmly.
The controversy emerged after Turki Alalshikh announced that Sela would promote the undisputed super middleweight title fight as part of the Riyadh season, raising questions about White's role. Initially, Alalshikh had indicated that both he and White would be handling promotional duties for the event.
By the way, this situation unfolds just as White and Alalshikh have officially announced the creation of a new boxing league under the TKO Group Holdings banner. Their stated aim? To modernize boxing and achieve the kind of exponential growth the UFC has experienced in recent years.
While various media outlets suggested friction between the two businessmen, sources close to the situation have dismissed these claims. The relationship appears intact, with Alalshikh reportedly continuing to praise White's work with the UFC.
As for the fight itself, while the exact venue hasn't been confirmed, all signs point to Las Vegas hosting the showdown between Alvarez and Crawford. The broadcast partner remains undecided, with more details expected soon.
Can White and Alalshikh successfully revolutionize boxing with their new venture despite these early promotional hiccups? The coming months will certainly be telling.
