Dana White Left Embarrassed as Turki Alalshikh Takes Full Control of Canelo vs Crawford

Turki Alalshikh confirmed this week that Sela, not TKO, will serve as the official promoter for the superfight, set to headline Riyadh Season.

“We have confirmed the promoter for Canelo v Crawford will be Sela for Riyadh Season,” tweeted Alalshikh. “The broadcaster we have not decided yet, but the date will be Saturday, 13th September. More details soon.”

White, who had publicly declared his intention to run the promotion like a UFC event; handling everything from production to event operations, has vanished from the project entirely. Just days ago, he was telling the media he “hates” that the fight might take place in a stadium, unaware that the final decision would render him completely irrelevant.

Back in March, it all looked so different. TKO Group Holdings, fresh off its merger between UFC and WWE, unveiled a new vision for boxing powered by Saudi money. Dana White, WWE’s Nick Khan, and Alalshikh appeared united, touting a supposed “new era” for the sport. Their first act? The long-awaited clash between Alvarez and Crawford, with White leading the event.

But reality hit fast and hard. First, the plan to host the bout at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas was quietly scrapped after someone realised a college football game was already booked for that weekend. Location talks shifted from Vegas to LA, then New York, and now, predictably, back to Riyadh.

Tensions Between Turki Alalshikh & Dana White May Increase After Rescheduling Date

White, who swaggered into boxing like a saviour, has been shown the door without so much as a press release. His grand plan for TKO Boxing? Derailed before it ever got off the ground.

Worse still for White, the fight has been officially moved to September 13, the same night as UFC 320, a direct scheduling collision that now leaves his organisation competing with a global boxing spectacle he was originally meant to lead.

Even the broadcast dreams have shifted. Initial whispers of a Netflix deal have been silenced. The bout will now go the traditional pay-per-view route, further cementing its status as a high-stakes, globally controlled event under the Saudi banner.

Crawford, the undefeated three-division champ, will move up two full weight classes to challenge Canelo for the undisputed super middleweight title. It’s a generational showdown, and now one completely controlled by Riyadh Season, with Dana White nowhere in sight.