“Today marks a new chapter in boxing history,” wrote Saudi boxing promoter His Excellency Turki Alalshikh on X last Wednesday. While the MMA world was focused on UFC 313, Dana White and his team were quietly finalizing plans to transform the boxing scene with a groundbreaking new league. Partnering with the Saudi combat sports mogul, known as the “guy who can make every fight happen,” they forged a multi-year agreement designed to bring boxing to new heights in America.

This game-changing collaboration also involves the UFC’s parent company, TKO with WWE President Nick Khan stepping into an executive role. The announcement has sparked excitement among fans, particularly those eager for high-stakes crossover fights—like a potential “one and done” showdown between Alex Pereira and Oleksandr Usyk. However, Dana White put an end to those hopes with a firm announcement: “No, never. I’m sure there are guys that want to box, but I literally don’t want to see any of that. We keep the boxers in boxing and the MMA guys in MMA. We’ll never have that.”

Meanwhile, Team Khabib’s head coach Javier Mendez has voiced his support for White’s firm stance on the rumored boxing league. During his YouTube podcast, Mendez’s co-host noted, “This is like double, double, man. And he said no UFC fighters allowed, which is cool; it keeps it pure.” The AKA head honcho went on to explain his agreement with White, emphasizing the difference in skill level between boxing and MMA: “You know because on a boxing level, there isn’t a single UFC fighter who actually qualifies at that level.”

Mendez’s perspective seems valid when you look at the UFC champions today—from flyweight Alexandre Pantoja to the reigning heavyweight Jon Jones—most are grounded in wrestling. Following UFC 313, the last of the pure strikers, Alex Pereira, was dethroned by the Dagestani Magomed Ankalaev, who impressed with his versatile fighting style.

Dana White, who briefly dipped into boxing with the 2017 Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather bout, had remained on the sidelines until last year when he worked with Irish sensation Callum Walsh. Since then, the UFC head honcho’s involvement in boxing has garnered significant attention. With the launch of his new boxing league, the question remains: who will be the next fighter to make an impact in this evolving scene?

Canelo Alvarez hints at joining Dana White’s boxing league in September

Canelo Alvarez has recently garnered significant attention for multiple reasons, including his surprising decision to back out of a fight with YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul. This move was a major letdown for Paul, as the bout was under his MVP promotion. Instead, the Mexican opted to sign a lucrative 4-fight deal with Riyadh Season and Turki Alalshikh. Two of these bouts are scheduled for later this year, with the remaining two planned for 2026. The Mexican juggernaut’s first outing of the year is scheduled for May against William Scull in a super middleweight title unification bout in Saudi Arabia.

Following that, he is expected to fight in Las Vegas, where rumors have circulated about a potential super fight with Terence Crawford. This coincides with the highly anticipated launch of Dana White’s new boxing league in September. CBS Sports asked Alvarez about his name being linked to White’s league and inquired, “A lot of people are associating your name with that. Is it an opportunity you’d be interested in?“

Canelo replied, “I think if it’s the best for the fighters out there, I’m fine with that. I think [TKO] is going to do the best for the fighters, I’m pretty sure about that. I’m glad someone takes good care of the fighters because there are a lot of promoters that don’t take seriously the fighters. I think this is good for boxing and for the fighters, especially.”

He further added, “I need to take care of my May fight first, then we will see about September. That’s a possibility to fight in Las Vegas in September and be the first (to compete on TKO Boxing).”

Dana White, for his part, seemed to appreciate the Mexican boxer’s answer. At the UFC 313 post-fight presser, the head honcho said: “Hearing that some of the biggest stars are excited that we’re getting into the sport is obviously a good thing, not a bad thing. But like I said, and I’ll say it again, we’ve got a lot of work to do in the next few weeks.”

What’s your take on Dana White’s decision to reject MMA-boxing crossover fights under his promotion? Do you think he could make an exception for his biggest star, UFC megastar Conor McGregor? If so, who would you like to see the Irishman face in the ring? Share your thoughts below!