Dana White’s first official foray into boxing promotion was a successful one.
Last Saturday night, White oversaw what was billed as one of the biggest fights of this generation of boxing when world champions Terence Crawford and Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez clashed in Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium — a fight which was won by Crawford, as the American employed a tactically sharp strategy to outfox the bigger, harder-hitting Mexican icon.
UFC boss White was front and centre for much of the pre-fight promotion after he was installed into the role by Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority and boxing’s biggest financier and powerbroker.
But according to Matchroom chief Eddie Hearn, White’s role in the Crawford-Canelo matchup was secondary to the work done on the fight by Alalshikh, with whom Hearn also has professional ties.
“Crawford vs. Canelo was not Dana White’s fight,” Hearn told Ariel Helwani, as reported by Bloody Elbow. “It was Turki Alalshikh’s fight, and [White] was invited to be the promoter.”
That said, Hearn says that White deserves recognition for his role in promoting the contest — but added that without Alalshikh, the fight would not have happened.
“Well done. Good. Well played,” Hearn said. “I’m sure you made a few quid, but let’s not get it twisted. The work that Turki Alalshikh has done in boxing paved the way for Canelo vs. Crawford. Without Turki, Canelo vs. Crawford never would have happened. In fact, it wouldn’t have even been a fight that Dana White would have considered or thought of making.
“So well done to Dana. Well done to TKO, but let’s give the credit of Canelo vs. Crawford to Turki Alalshikh, the man that truly paid up for the fight, the man that truly had the vision for two generational greats to meet in a ring. Because I didn’t believe that fight could get made. He went out and made it.”
“And yep, Dana turned up and sat in the front row and went to the press conference. But, you know, if you’re taking credit for Mayweather vs. McGregor and a fight that ultimately someone else paid for, there’s a long way to go.”
Hearn also explained what it is like to produce an event alongside Alalshikh — and he said he is sure that Dana White has learned that the Saudi benefactor controls much of the aspects of the fight, regardless of advice.
“Turki Alalshikh, I’m just being straight, he doesn’t really allow you to do what you want to do,” Hearn explained. “He does what he wants to do, and you follow. And I’ve learned over the years of working with him, your your advice mainly falls on deaf ears, but I’ve also learned that he’s definitely not an idiot. He’s a very smart guy, and there’s a method to the madness.”
“But the traditional ways of going on sale through tickets or announcing the press conference or even announcing the fight is just not the traditional way with him. And I think they’re gonna clash, but money’s money, innit? It depends if sometimes you’re prepared to keep your mouth quiet and do as you’re told. I am. Are they?”
