White spoke about the project at the UFC 313 post-fight press conference, where Magomed Ankalaev had just beaten Alex Pereira by unanimous decision to end Pereira's reign. White's words seemed to extend an olive branch to Canelo, despite their past differences.
"Hearing that some of the biggest stars are excited that we're getting into the sport is obviously a good thing, not a bad thing. But like I said, and I'll say it again, we've got a lot of work to do in the next few weeks."
Canelo, who recently inked a four-fight deal with Alalshikh, is on board with the new venture. In an interview with CBS Sports, the Mexican boxer shared his thoughts:
"I think they're going to do what's best for the fighters and I'm pretty sure of that. I'm glad that someone is taking care of the fighters because there are a lot of promoters who don't take the fighters seriously. I think this is good for boxing, especially for the fighters."
The new league aims to address some of the long-standing issues in boxing, particularly the treatment of fighters by promoters. It's set to launch in September, coinciding with Canelo's expected showdown against Terence Crawford in Las Vegas.
A professional meeting between Canelo and White could be on the horizon, given Canelo's new partnership with Riyadh Season. After his potential Crawford fight, Canelo will head to Saudi Arabia as part of his commitments with Alalshikh.
The boxing world will watch closely as this new league takes shape. If White and Alalshikh can deliver on their promises, it could mean big changes for fighters and fans alike.