Daniel Cormier shares the widespread excitement for the highly anticipated boxing match between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford. He expressed particular enthusiasm for the fact that UFC CEO Dana White will be leading the promotion for this major event.
Scheduled for September 12th at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, the bout will serve as the main event for White`s new TKO Boxing venture. Crawford, an undefeated four-division boxing champion with a 41-0 record, will be moving up to the 168-pound division to challenge the reigning champion, Canelo Alvarez (63-2-2).
Canelo is coming off a recent decision victory against William Scull, a fight widely criticized on social media for its lack of action from both fighters. Despite the underwhelming performance, Canelo retained his undisputed super middleweight status, keeping the path open for this clash with Crawford.
Speaking on YouTube, Cormier discussed the timing of the matchup, asserting that his boss, Dana White, possesses the capability to keep the Canelo vs. Crawford fight prominently in the public consciousness as September approaches.
Cormier stated, “They are two of the absolute best boxers globally, and they are certainly not past their prime. These are incredible fighters still at their peak.” Comparing them to his own sport, he added, “Most UFC champions aren`t even under 30 right now. So they`re in their athletic prime, typically between 30 and 35.” He acknowledged that the fight might have generated slightly more buzz a couple of years ago before Canelo`s less-than-stellar recent outing. “That being said,” Cormier continued, “Dana White is going to promote this event. And because Dana White is involved, I believe it will bring a different magnitude of interest to [boxing].”
He reiterated their prime status, saying, “They are still in their athletic prime. I admittedly wished I could have seen this a few years ago when Canelo was perhaps a bit smaller. I personally don`t think Canelo is quite as effective now as he was competing at 154 or 160 pounds because he`s slightly bigger, carrying more muscle.” Nevertheless, Cormier is optimistic: “But I anticipate this will be a blockbuster event. It`s poised to be one of the biggest pay-per-views we`ve ever witnessed, highly competitive, and I genuinely believe the added element of Dana promoting it, alongside Riyadh Season, will encourage more people to tune into this significant fight.”
White is collaborating closely with Saudi Arabian promoter Turki Alalshikh on the September 12th event. Alalshikh has emerged as a significant force in boxing, investing substantial amounts to facilitate highly sought-after fights, including multiple bouts involving Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury. This approach, however, faced some setbacks with recent boxing events in New York`s Times Square and Riyadh, where prominent stars like Canelo, Ryan Garcia, and Devin Haney reportedly did not deliver performances commensurate with their billing.
Despite recent promotional challenges in the sport, Cormier remains hopeful that Canelo vs. Crawford will be a far more compelling contest, especially with White`s promotional expertise involved.
“This is a massive fight,” Cormier affirmed. “My hope is that it delivers a performance that meets or surpasses expectations. Growing up, it felt like the two best guys were always put together when they should be. It still feels like we haven`t missed the window for these two. I truly feel this will be a big, good, and fun fight, a genuine competition between two of the best boxers globally.”
He concluded by emphasizing the key details: “September 12th, Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, promoted by Dana White. Promoted by TKO. Promoted by Riyadh Season. Make sure to tune in for Canelo Alvarez defending his Ring Magazine championship against the great Terence Crawford.”
