Dana White shoots down rumors of falling out with Turki Alalshikh over Canelo vs. Crawford clash

UFC Fight Night: Whittaker v Aliskerov — Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

When Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford meet in possibly the biggest boxing match of 2025, UFC CEO Dana White plans to be there right alongside them.

On Saturday night following UFC 316, White put to bed any rumors that he was no longer involved in promoting Canelo vs. Crawford after his business partner Turki Alalshikh—the chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority and the primary figure funding the new boxing venture headed up by the UFC’s owners at TKO Group Holdings—posted on social media that Sela would promote the event with the card airing on DAZN pay-per-view.

That came after Alalshikh initially announced White would be the event’s promoter, which would serve as the launching pad for the new partnership with TKO.

White promised he’s definitely still working on Canelo vs. Crawford and his relationship with Alalshikh and Saudi Arabia is as solid as ever.

“I’m going to tell you what’s awesome,” White said reacting to the latest rumors regarding his involvement with Canelo vs. Crawford. “There’s a lot of f*cked-up things about boxing, but they don’t say shit. Nobody talks. It’s the most amazing thing. If we sign a deal, I’ve got to f*cking get out my phone quick [and announce it], because 9,000 people will be out there talking about it. These guys don’t talk.

“I’m promoting the fight [between Canelo and Crawford]. I’ll let you guys know when it’s time to let you know.”

The latest update on the planned event was the fight would take place Sept. 13 but the location is still up in the air.

White expects full details about Canelo vs. Crawford, from the date, location, arena and everything else, to be announced in the near future but he’s not concerned with what’s being talked about on social media or anywhere else.

“I’m in my own little world,” White said. “I don’t pay attention to any of that shit. I know what’s going on, I know what we’re doing. I don’t really pay attention to that stuff. It doesn’t matter to me.”

As far as his relationship with Alalshikh goes, White assures there’s been no bump in the road between them.

They may not speak on the phone everyday but White knows his relationship and partnership with Alalshikh are solid as they prepare to embark on this new venture together starting with Canelo vs. Crawford in September.

“We’re good,” White said. “We’re very good.”

Obviously, Alalshikh agrees after he took to Twitter to verify that White is absolutely the promoter behind Canelo vs. Crawford with more announcements on the fight expected soon.

“My brother Dana will promote this fight,” Alalshikh wrote on Sunday. “It is the fight of Riyadh Season, and we have a deal with TKO to promote it and it will the biggest fight in boxing, and tomorrow I think I will tell the details and the platform and the place for this fight, me and and Dana.”

My brother Dana will promote this fight

It is the fight of Riyadh Season, and we have a deal with TKO to promote it and it will the biggest fight in boxing, and tomorrow I think I will tell the details and the platform and the place for this fight, me and and Dana pic.twitter.com/Pk0KXHie0I

— TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) June 8, 2025