Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford's fight for the undisputed super-middleweight title has undergone major changes. The bout between two of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world will now take place on Saturday, September 13, a day later than originally planned.
The venue for this mega-fight is currently up in the air. Initially set for Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, organizers have yet to announce a new location. This shift comes as part of a broader shake-up in the event's organization.
Perhaps the biggest surprise is the change in promoter. Dana White and TKO, who were originally slated to handle the event, are no longer involved. Instead, Turki Alalshikh announced on social media that Sela for Riyadh Season will take over promotional duties.
We have confirmed the promoter for Canelo v Crawford will be Sela for Riyadh Season. The broadcaster we have not decided yet but the date will be Saturday 13th September. More details soon.
This news marks a significant shift from White's earlier enthusiasm about the fight. He had previously stated:
This is one of the biggest fights ever. I'm honoured to be promoting. When they say we're promoting it, I'm doing the promotion, the production, the event ops, the PR, everything to do with the fight just like doing a UFC fight.
Interestingly, White wasn't keen on hosting the fight in a stadium, which might have played a role in the venue change. However, the exact reasons behind the promoter switch remain unclear.
The fight itself promises to be a spectacle. Canelo will put his undisputed super-middleweight titles on the line against Crawford, who's moving up to 168lbs for this challenge. 'Bud' Crawford's decision to jump up in weight adds an extra layer of intrigue to an already compelling matchup.
While the date and promoter are now set, fight fans will have to wait a bit longer for details on the venue and broadcaster. These changes have certainly added more buzz around an already highly-anticipated bout between two of boxing's biggest stars.
