Dana White has strongly responded to rumors claiming he was removed from his role as promoter for the upcoming Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford fight. The UFC president didn't hold back 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 clarified.
The confusion started when Turki Alalshikh announced that Sela would promote the fight as part of the Riyadh season, despite previously stating that the undisputed super middleweight title bout would be promoted by both him and White. This shift raised questions about White's actual role in the promotion.
Interestingly, this comes shortly after White and Alalshikh officially announced their partnership in creating a new boxing league under TKO Group Holdings. The venture aims to modernize boxing, hoping to achieve growth similar to what the UFC has experienced in recent years.
Despite rumors of tension between the two businessmen, reports indicate their relationship remains solid. Alalshikh has repeatedly praised White's work with the UFC.
As for the fight itself, while the exact location hasn't been confirmed, all signs point to Las Vegas hosting the showdown between Saul "Canelo" Alvarez and Terence Crawford. The network that will broadcast the event is still undetermined.
Will this new boxing venture succeed in transforming the sport as White and Alalshikh hope? Only time will tell, but the behind-the-scenes drama certainly adds another layer of intrigue to an already compelling fight.
