UFC President Dana White and Saudi boxing kingpin Turki Alalshikh are joining forces under the new TKO banner, and their first major promotion is set to be a highly anticipated clash between Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Terence Crawford. The fight is expected to headline the inaugural TKO-promoted card as early as September.
Reports indicate that the business partnership between White, known for building the UFC into a global powerhouse, and Alalshikh, a significant figure in global boxing through Saudi investments, is accelerating its launch timeline.
While earlier plans suggested their boxing venture would commence next year, this major fight signals a much earlier start for the collaboration, promising a significant impact on the boxing landscape.
Following his recent unanimous decision victory over William Scull to retain his IBF title, the undisputed super-middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez (63-2-2, 39 KOs) is now preparing to defend his belts on September 12th.
His opponent will be the formidable four-division world champion Terence Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs). Crawford, who last fought at super-welterweight against Israil Madrimov, is moving up in weight for this monumental challenge.
Crawford, nicknamed `Bud,` is expected to be confident in his ability to overcome the Mexican superstar when they meet at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas for what is anticipated to be a massive event.
Adding to Crawford`s confidence might be Canelo`s recent performance against Scull, which, while a victory, was not universally seen as dominant. Although Scull wasn`t a top-tier challenger, some observers have noted that Canelo`s performances in his last few fights have led to questions about whether he is still at his absolute peak at 34 years old.
