Former UFC champion Daniel Cormier shares the widespread excitement surrounding the upcoming boxing clash between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford. He is particularly enthusiastic about UFC CEO Dana White overseeing the promotion for the highly anticipated bout.
Scheduled for September 12 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, the fight will headline White`s debut TKO Boxing event. Crawford, a four-division world champion with a perfect 41-0 record, is moving up in weight to challenge Canelo, the undisputed super middleweight king (63-2-2).
Canelo is fresh off a win against William Scull, a fight widely criticized for its low activity from both fighters, particularly on social media. Despite the lackluster performance, Canelo secured a decision victory, retained his undisputed status, and stayed on course for the showdown with Crawford.
Speaking on YouTube, Cormier discussed the timing of the matchup and praised White`s ability to keep Canelo vs. Crawford prominently in the public consciousness leading up to September.
Cormier stated, “They’re two of the best boxers in the world. They’re not over the hill at all, these are phenomenal fighters, they’re both still in their prime.” He compared their age (30-35) favorably to that of current UFC champions, noting that many mixed martial arts champions are older. While acknowledging that the fight might have garnered slightly more momentum a couple of years ago, possibly before Canelo`s recent performance, Cormier emphasized the impact of the promotion.
“That being said, Dana White’s going to promote this thing,” Cormier continued. “And because Dana White is going to promote this thing, I feel like it will bring a different level of interest into [boxing.]” He added that although he thought Canelo might have been better at lighter weights (154, 160) where he carried less muscle, the fight is poised to be a “blockbuster event” and one of the biggest pay-per-views ever, expecting it to be “highly competitive.” Cormier believes the combined promotional power of Dana White and Riyadh Season will drive more viewers to tune into this major fight.
White is collaborating closely with Saudi Arabian promoter Turki Alalshikh for the September 12 event. Alalshikh has become a significant force in boxing by investing heavily to produce major fights, including Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury bouts. However, Alalshikh`s recent boxing events in New York and Riyadh, featuring stars like Canelo, Ryan Garcia, and Devin Haney, reportedly failed to live up to expectations in terms of excitement.
Despite recent disappointments in the sport, Cormier remains optimistic that Canelo vs. Crawford will be significantly more engaging, especially with White`s involvement.
“It’s a massive fight,” Cormier said. “I hope that it can deliver and match or exceed the expectation.” He reflected on past eras when the top two fighters consistently met, feeling that the window for this particular matchup has not closed. Cormier anticipates it will be a “big fight, a good fight, a fun fight, and a true competition between two of the best boxers of the entire world.” He highlighted the details once more: “September 12, Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, promoted by Dana White. Promoted by TKO. Promoted by Riyadh Season. Tap into Canelo Alvarez defending his Ring Magazine championship against the great Terence Crawford.”
