Dana White has firmly rejected rumors about being removed from promoting the upcoming Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford fight. The UFC boss, who recently partnered with Turki Alalshikh to create a new boxing league under TKO Group Holdings, didn't hold back when addressing speculation about behind-the-scenes friction.
"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 emphatically.
The confusion stemmed from Alalshikh's announcement that the undisputed super middleweight title fight would occur on September 13 and be promoted by both himself and White. However, he later revealed that Sela would promote the fight as part of the Riyadh season, raising questions about White's involvement.
Interestingly, the partnership between White and Alalshikh aims to modernize boxing, a sport often criticized for its traditional approach. Their ambition is to achieve growth similar to what the UFC has experienced in recent years under White's leadership.
While the exact location remains unconfirmed, all signs point to Las Vegas hosting the highly anticipated bout between Saul "Canelo" Alvarez and Terence Crawford. The fight is scheduled for Saturday, September 13, with broadcast details yet to be announced.
Despite the swirling rumors, sources indicate the relationship between White and the Saudi businessman remains positive, with Alalshikh repeatedly praising White's work with the UFC. Will this new boxing venture revolutionize the sport as they hope? Only time will tell.
