Canelo vs Crawford to headline first show under TKO banner
UFC president Dana White and boxing paymaster Turki Alalshikh are gearing up to launch their new outfit, with Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford headlining the first TKO-promoted card in September.
As reported by Ring Magazine, the publication now owned by Alalshikh, the pair will put their business partnership into motion sooner than expected.
It was revealed earlier this year that White, after building and consolidating MMA’s flagship promotion, would finally accelerate his long awaited involvement in the sweet science.
But while he and Alalshikh have promised to make a meteoric splash, their boxing venture under the TKO banner was not set to kick start until early next year.
That, however, has seemingly changed, with the UFC boss and Saudi government official delivering perhaps the most anticipated show of this year.
After outpointing William Scull last night to reclaim his IBF strap, Canelo, 63-2-2 (39 KOs), will now look to defend his undisputed super-middleweight crown on September 12.
Standing in his way of further greatness is fellow four-division world champion Crawford, 41-0 (31 KOs), who fought at super-welterweight in his last outing against Israil Madrimov.
Nevertheless, ‘Bud’ will be supremely confident in his ability to topple the Mexican at the Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, for what promises to be a blockbuster event.
Not only that, but Crawford may even take additional belief from seeing Canelo trudge towards a less than spectacular unanimous decision victory over Scull.
While his opponent was far from tremendous, either, the 34-year-old’s past few performances have nonetheless done little to convince fans that, at this stage of his career, he remains an elite operator.
