Daniel Cormier is among those highly anticipating the long-awaited boxing showdown between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford. His excitement is amplified by the fact that UFC CEO Dana White will be leading the promotional efforts for the bout.
The fight is scheduled for September 12th at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas and will serve as the main event for White`s first TKO Boxing presentation. Terence Crawford, who boasts an undefeated 41-0 record and is a four-division champion, is moving up in weight to the 168-pound division to challenge Canelo Alvarez, whose record stands at 63-2-2.
Canelo`s recent performance against William Scull saw him win a decision, but the fight was widely criticized for its lack of action and output from both competitors. Despite the underwhelming display, Canelo successfully defended and unified the super middleweight titles, keeping the high-profile fight against Crawford on track.
Speaking about the fight`s timing, Cormier expressed confidence in Dana White`s ability to maintain significant public interest in the Canelo-Crawford clash leading up to September. “They`re two of the best boxers in the world,” Cormier stated. “They`re not over the hill at all, these are phenomenal fighters, they`re both still in their prime.” He highlighted that athletes in their early to mid-30s are often considered in their athletic peak. While acknowledging the fight might have generated slightly more momentum if Canelo hadn`t had his recent less-than-stellar performance, Cormier firmly believes White`s involvement will be a game-changer.
“Because Dana White is going to promote this thing,” Cormier continued, “I feel like it will bring a different level of interest into [boxing].” He mused that Canelo might have been more dynamic at lower weight classes (154, 160) before adding more muscle, but regardless, he expects the event to be a “blockbuster” and potentially one of the biggest pay-per-views seen. Cormier foresees a highly competitive fight and believes the combined promotional power of Dana White and Riyadh Season will significantly draw more viewers to this major event.
White is reportedly collaborating closely with Saudi Arabian promoter Turki Alalshikh for the September 12th card. Alalshikh has emerged as a disruptive force in boxing, financing major fights like the Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury bouts. However, recent events he promoted in New York and Riyadh, featuring stars like Canelo, Ryan Garcia, and Devin Haney, received criticism for the quality of the fights.
Despite recent promotional challenges in the sport, Cormier remains optimistic that the Canelo vs. Crawford fight will be far more compelling, especially with White`s involvement. He described it as a “massive fight,” hoping it lives up to or surpasses expectations. Comparing it to past eras when the top two fighters would naturally meet, Cormier feels the timing for Canelo and Crawford is still right. He concluded, calling it “a big fight, a good fight, a fun fight, and a true competition between two of the best boxers of the entire world.”
Marcus Blakely