The fight between Alvarez and Crawford will happen on September 13 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Netflix will stream the event live. This is a big deal because it's taking the spotlight away from UFC Noche, which was supposed to be in Guadalajara but got moved to Texas because of construction delays.
White's move to promote this boxing match has caused a stir among fans. Some are poking fun at the situation. One fan joked about Saudi promoter Turki Alalshikh looking like UFC fighter Belal Muhammad, saying, "What the hell is Belal doing there?" Another quipped, "Canelo, Kendrick Lamar, Joe Rogan, and Belal," referring to past mix-ups about people's identities.
Some fans think White is just in it for the money. One comment read, "Dana always got that I'm about to get paid grimace on his face lol."
Zuffa Boxing posted on Instagram:
"FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS WEEK, @Canelo & @TBudCrawford start fight week off face-to-face."
This fight is a big deal. It's not just another boxing match - it's seen as a cultural event. White has won this weekend in terms of attention, but he's also getting some heat from fans who think he's putting boxing ahead of MMA.
The UFC has had to make some changes to its schedule. UFC Noche moved from Guadalajara to Texas, and UFC 320 got pushed to October. This left the usual Mexican Independence Weekend slot open for the Canelo vs Crawford fight.
It's hard to say if this is just a one-time thing or if it means boxing might start getting more attention than MMA in the future. Either way, it's clear that this weekend, all eyes are on the boxing ring, not the octagon.