Dana White faced tough questions at the Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford press conference. The UFC president got grilled about changes to boxing laws and UFC's recent legal troubles.
The event started smoothly. White said he enjoys how quickly fight nights go by. But things got heated when Sean Zittel from FightHype stepped up to the mic.
Zittel asked White about proposed changes to the Muhammad Ali Act, a law that protects boxers. He also brought up UFC's recent $375 million lawsuit settlement and ongoing legal issues. Zittel wanted to know why White would push for a business model in boxing that's caused so many problems for UFC.
"Why do you want to implement a business model that has already forced your company to pay $375 million and still faces pending class action lawsuits?"
White didn't like these questions one bit. He brushed them off, telling Zittel:
"If you want to talk about it, schedule an interview with me."
White insisted they should focus on the upcoming fight instead. He even accused Zittel of showing off at the conference.
The mood got tense, but Canelo Alvarez saved the day. The super middleweight champ jumped in with a joke, yelling:
"Fight, fight, fight, fight!"
Everyone laughed, and the tension eased up.
This press conference happened just days before the big Canelo vs Crawford fight on Saturday. It's a huge match that could change the boxing world. But White's presence and the tough questions he faced stole some of the spotlight.
The proposed changes to the Muhammad Ali Act have many fighters and fans worried. TKO, the company that owns both UFC and WWE, supports these changes. Critics fear this could lead to a UFC-style system in boxing, where promoters have more control over fighters.
UFC's business model, where the promoter acts as both sanctioning body and fighter controller, has led to legal troubles. The recent $375 million settlement and ongoing lawsuits highlight these issues.
As the Canelo vs Crawford fight approaches, these questions about boxing's future and UFC's influence loom large. White might have dodged them for now, but they're not going away anytime soon.
