Dana White shut down suggestions of a rift with Turki Alalshikh and confirmed that he will be the lead promoter for the September super fight between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford.
UFC president, White and Alalshikh, the Saudi Arabian boxing chief, joined forces in March to create the TKO boxing league and Canelo vs Crawford was expected to headline the inaugural event.
After Alvarez defeated William Scull on May 3 to reclaim the undisputed super middleweight crown, Alalshikh announced the bout for September 12 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas and revealed White would promote it.
However, on May 18, Alalshikh said SELA – the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia – would handle the promotional duties and it would now be staged a day later on September 13.
“We have confirmed the promoter for Canelo v Crawford will be Sela for Riyadh Season,” Alalshikh posted on X.
“The broadcaster we have not decided yet but the date will be Saturday 13th September.
“More details soon.”
With White not mentioned in the post, there was widespread speculation that the pair had a falling out.
However, following UFC 316 on Saturday, White confirmed at the post-fight press conference that he would in fact be promoting the clash.
The Allegiant Stadium – home of the Las Vegas Raiders – is scheduled to host a college football game between the UNLV Rebels and Idaho State on September 13, so the bout is expected to switch to a different venue in Las Vegas, possibly the T-Mobile Arena, which the UFC have a partnership with.
Alalshikh confirmed that White would be in charge of pushing the fight in a post on X on Sunday: “My brother Dana will promote this fight.
“It is the fight of Riyadh Season, and we have a deal with TKO to promote it and it will the biggest fight in boxing, and tomorrow I think I will tell the details and the platform and the place for this fight, me and and Dana.”
White insists there has been no fracture in his relationship with Alalshikh, but admitted that he couldn’t recall the last time they communicated.
“I don’t really know [what happened],” the 55-year-old said.
“Listen, when we’re at work in UFC headquarters, I’m in my own little world, man.
“I don’t pay attention to any of that s***.
“I know what’s going on, I know what we’re doing, I don’t really pay attention to that stuff.
“It doesn’t matter to me.
“I don’t even remember the last time I talked to him [Alalshikh], but we’re good. We’re very good.”
Crawford will move up two weight divisions to challenge Alvarez, a victory which would see him become a five-weight world champion.
The 37-year-old will have been out of the ring for over a year since he defeated Israil Madrimov last August to become WBA super welterweight world champion in Los Angeles.
