The boxing world is in for a shakeup. Ever since His Excellency Turki Alalshikh announced the launch of a new boxing promotion, to be led by UFC president Dana White, yesterday in a multi-year partnership with the TKO Group, the combat sports world has been buzzing. While some are questioning the move, others can’t wait to see what the promotion will entail. The Riyadh Season figurehead, along with Sela and TKO, are hoping to build a sustainable future for boxing and cement Sela’s role as a global powerhouse in sports.

Hours after the announcement, HE Alalshikh and UFC president Dana White appeared on The Pat McAfee Show to talk about their new venture. What caught fans’ attention was when the Saudi Royal teased the first big event for the promotion to be in September later this year. So, what’s so special about September? The Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford clash.

Turki Alalshikh and Dana White hint at a big announcement soon

During the ESPN interview on The Pat McAfee Show, both HE Turki Alalshikh and Dana White dropped some big hints about their collaboration. The chairman of the General Entertainment Authority of Saudi Arabia, being his usual enthusiastic self, tried to get Dana White to spill the beans on the first event coming in September. “I want to tell you a secret. If he [Dana White] allow me, ask him which is the first event fight he will have in September. Ask him if he want to answer,” revealed Alalshikh as Dana White chuckled.

White remained tight-lipped while holding back on the specific details of the event. He added, “Well, there’s a thing that we wanted to pump the breaks on and announce this. [But] My friend Turki gets too excited for us to go all out.” The UFC CEO kept stressing how this is the kind of fight only HE Alalshikh could pull off and that it’ll be a game-changer for boxing. “This man right here is the only guy that could make a fight like this happen,” Dana White added excitedly.

White also made it clear that this partnership is more than just a one-off thing. It’s about rebuilding the sport from the ground up, starting fresh. And they’re not wasting any time – they’re going to drop this bombshell soon. “We will announce it soon… Today is day 1… and we’re gonna start building this sport back up from ground zero,” the 55-year-old stated.

Oh, and while the exact date is still up in the air, HE Turki Alalshikh sneakily hinted that it could all kick off around September 12th. And that was all the internet needed to speculate that the event would be the Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford showdown in Las Vegas. Or at least that’s one of the fights fans are eagerly hoping to see Dana White orchestrate, given his tense history with Canelo.

Could Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford be the one?

One user commented, “Crawford vs Canelo first show of the new league,” suggesting that once Canelo wraps up his fight with William Scull on May 3rd, he should face Crawford under the brand new entity. Another user echoed this sentiment, writing, “The September fight is probably Canelo vs Crawford.”

One user warned, “The 4 sanctioning bodies they going be disappointed.” This comment hints that if HE Turki Alalshikh and Dana White introduce their own belt, the existing world championship organizations like the WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO might lose their relevance. Given Alalshikh’s reputation for putting together massive fights, fans could start tuning in for his events rather than those sanctioned by traditional organizations, which is one concern boxing purists have regarding Dana White’s involvement.

One user curiously asked, “Canelo vs. Benavidez?” While this fight holds significance for hardcore boxing fans, especially for David Benavidez to prove himself after his victory over David Morrell on February 1st, it doesn’t seem like a match that will generate massive viewership. Considering Turki Alalshikh’s focus on hosting high-revenue fights, this matchup seems unlikely at this point.

Lastly, a boxing enthusiast demanded, “September fight joshua vs Fury.” After two losses to undefeated Heavyweight Oleksandr Usyk, fans are eager to see Tyson Fury face his longtime British rival, Anthony Joshua. The rivalry between the two heavyweights could draw big attention.

Do you think Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford could be the perfect opener for Turki Alalshikh’s new boxing promotion? Would the introduction of a new boxing league under Dana White shift the balance in the sport? Do share your thoughts with us below.