Dana White is preparing for a significant period in his career with the announcement of TKO Boxing`s launch event: Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford.
Scheduled for September 12, the highly anticipated bout between the two boxing greats will take place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. This venue choice is noteworthy given the UFC president has historically opposed holding events in such large stadiums.
While a fight of this scale inherently requires a massive stage, White, now also a TKO Boxing promoter, has previously been adamant against stadium venues, even when pressured by high-profile fighters like Ilia Topuria.
Following White`s attendance at WrestleMania 41, which was also held at Allegiant Stadium, he was questioned during the post-fight press conference for UFC Kansas City about whether the experience had altered his perspective.
White stated, “Nothing will change my mind about a stadium show… I really like this town, and the energy in that place was awesome all night. That’s the energy you get in an [arena].”
Dana White Reiterates Dislike for Stadium Venues Despite Canelo vs. Crawford Booking at Allegiant Stadium
Speaking recently with Carlos Contreras Legaspi for ESPN Deportes, White discussed the plans for the Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford fight following the official announcement of his involvement.
The UFC president has long intended to venture into the boxing world, and his initial significant undertaking in this space happens to be one of the most anticipated fights in recent memory.
He commented, “It`s an absolute honor, and Canelo and Crawford have both been great about this too. I look forward to working with these guys from now until September; it`s going to be fun.”
White was subsequently questioned about the decision to stage the fight at Las Vegas` Allegiant Stadium, the home to the Las Vegas Raiders, which boasts a capacity exceeding 65,000.
He reaffirmed his preference for arena events but noted that for this particular circumstance, he would make every effort to enhance the overall experience at the stadium.
When asked specifically about the stadium venue, he responded, “Yeah, I hate it. I hate it. So, because I hate it so much, you know I`m gonna have to try to figure out how to make it an incredible experience inside Allegiant [Stadium].”
Dana White Details TKO`s Role in Promoting Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford
Immediately following the September 12 bout, poised to be potentially the biggest boxing match of 2025, White will shift focus to the next major event on the TKO schedule.
The very next day, September 13, marks the third installment of Noche UFC, set to take place in Arena Guadalajara, which is still awaiting its opening after numerous delays.
Despite this packed schedule, White confirmed to ESPN Deportes that TKO`s involvement in Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford goes beyond simply assisting.
White and his team are as fully involved in promoting the boxing match as they are in Noche UFC, scheduled for September 13.
He elaborated, “This is one of the biggest fights ever, and obviously, I`m honored to be promoting it. But yes, when they say we`re promoting it, I`m doing the promotion, we`re doing the production, the event ops, PR – everything to do with the fight, just like a UFC fight.”
