After successfully orchestrating the Last Crescendo event back in February, His Excellency Turki Alalshikh was hoping to ride that momentum into May. But the May 3rd Cinco de Mayo event in Riyadh, headlined by Canelo Alvarez vs. William Scull, backed by seven undercard bouts, failed to capture fan enthusiasm. The main event was panned as sleep-inducing, with critics accusing Scull of evading rather than engaging, and Canelo of delivering a flat performance that lacked his usual fire. Meanwhile, Dana White’s UFC 315’s headliner between Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena didn’t exactly ignite the pay-per-view charts either. But redemption may lie ahead.
Canelo’s next bout, his second in the four-fight deal with the Saudis, will mark the first true co-promotion between HE Alalshikh and Dana White under their new TKO boxing banner. And it’s a big one: Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford. The long-anticipated super-fight could reignite momentum. Still, early whispers of a shift from the earlier planned date now raise eyebrows. Just a scheduling tweak? Or a sign of deeper discord between the power duo?
Two fights, one day? Dana White’s ultimate combat showdown
Just hours ago, The Ring’s Mike Coppinger reported that the blockbuster Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford bout has now been moved to Saturday, September 13. Yet conflicting reports muddy the waters. How? Well, BoxingScene cited insiders saying Netflix, the event’s rumored streaming partner, still intends to keep the fight on its originally announced date: Friday, September 12, at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium. The confusion has sparked questions, especially with talk of alternate locations like New York or Los Angeles being floated. According to BoxingScene, this might be classic promoter gamesmanship.
After all, Mexican Independence Day weekend is premium real estate in combat sports, and the Guadalajara native, Canelo Alvarez, has owned that turf for years. But a move to September 13 sets up a direct clash with UFC 320 in Guadalajara, the Noche UFC card honoring the same patriotic weekend.
What’s more, the broadcast landscape seems to be shifting. How, you ask? Well, a boxing official told BoxingScene that Netflix wants Alvarez vs. Crawford to stay on the same original fight date (Friday, September 12 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas). However, HE Turki Alalshikh has since confirmed that the bout will now be part of the prestigious Riyadh Season as a pay-per-view event. In light of that shift, Netflix’s preferred timing may no longer carry much weight in the final decision. And what does it mean?
Well, that pits TKO Boxing’s crown jewel directly against Dana White’s UFC on a competitive night, forcing fans to choose where their dollars and loyalties land. But amid the swirl, HE Turki Alalshikh made it clear he’s still steering the ship to ensure there are no clashes. Taking to X, he stated, “I will announce at the right time when and where the big fight Canelo and Crawford and in which platform!” Meanwhile, the UFC President has signaled he’s ready to reshape boxing altogether, promising to bring the ‘UFC treatment’ to the sport after Canelo’s dreadful last outing.
Dana White dials up a double dose of violence
Before the Belal Muhammad vs. Jack Della Maddalena bout on May 10, Dana White used the pre-fight press conference to pivot attention toward his next frontier: boxing. Speaking with MMA journalist Carlos Contreras Legaspi, Dana White didn’t hold back his excitement about co-promoting the blockbuster Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford showdown. For the 55-year-old, this isn’t just a one-off opportunity; it’s a statement.
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“This one’s the biggest fight ever,” Dana White declared. “And obviously I’m honored to be promoting, but yes. When they say we’re promoting it, I’m doing the promotion, we’re doing the production, the events, the PR, I mean everything to do with the fight just like the UFC fights.” On top of it, he also teased a jam-packed weekend, confirming that UFC Noche will run alongside the boxing mega-event. “It’s a bada– fight weekend,” Dana White added, setting the stage for a combat sports doubleheader unlike any other.
With that in mind, Dana White’s long-standing motto, “the best fight the best,” may finally be paying off as he steps into boxing with one of the sport’s most anticipated matchups. While the sudden shuffle in dates has yet to be fully explained, one thing is clear: the first official press conference for Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford is locked in for June in Riyadh. But beyond the hype lies a deeper question: if Dana White is truly trying to apply UFC’s economic model—tight control, centralized promotion, and aggressive branding to boxing, could that clash with HE Turki Alalshikh’s vision? And most importantly, where would you most like to see the Canelo vs. Crawford fight take place?
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