Promoter war: Hearn vs White ahead of historic Canelo vs Crawford fight

The clash, scheduled for Saturday, September 13, at Allegiant Stadium, a venue with a capacity for 71,000 spectators, has generated worldwide excitement due to the magnitude of the matchup: Canelo, the undisputed super middleweight champion, defends his legacy against Crawford, an undefeated contender who is moving up two divisions in search of glory.

The exchange of statements that ignited social media

White, who organizes the event together with TKO, the company he owns and which also controls the UFC and WWE, stated this week:

“I've been involved in two of the three biggest fights in boxing history. Beg for that one, guys,” referring to Canelo vs. Crawford and Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor (2017). The latter, a pay-per-view sales record, remains one of the most successful PPVs with 4.3 million purchases in the US alone.

But Hearn, known for his candor, did not remain silent and, speaking to iFL TV, said:

"One of them was Mayweather vs. McGregor. For me, that's not one of the biggest fights in boxing history; it was more of an exhibition. And Canelo vs. Crawford isn't even his fight, it's Turki Alalshikh's, and White was just invited as a promoter. So, I'm not sure what it's all about."

Hearn and professional competition

The 46-year-old British promoter made it clear that he is not seeking personal conflict, but professional competition:

“I am excited by the challenge of competing with Dana. Being seen as his biggest competitor in this space only increases my profile and the relevance of our work in boxing.”

This dispute reflects how the business of modern boxing has become as important as the fights themselves. The inclusion of TKO and White's direct involvement are not only seeking visibility, but also positioning the product globally, while traditional promoters such as Hearn defend the “essence” of classic promotion.

The road to Canelo vs. Crawford

The duel in the ring does not disappoint either: Álvarez fights at his natural weight, while Crawford challenges two higher divisions, attempting to become the first undisputed champion of three categories in the modern era. The combination of rivalry in the ring and tension at the promoters' table makes this fight a historic event, not only in terms of sport, but also in terms of media coverage.

With millions of dollars at stake, record viewership, and the attention of the entire planet, the battle between promoters and boxers is set to make history this Saturday in Las Vegas.