The highly anticipated boxing match between undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez and two-division undisputed champion Terence Crawford is officially confirmed to take place in Las Vegas on September 13th. While the city is set, the specific venue is yet to be announced. The megafight will be streamed live worldwide exclusively on Netflix.
Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia`s General Entertainment Authority and president of the Saudi Boxing Federation, shared these updates regarding the broadcast partner and location on Tuesday. The precise venue information remains forthcoming. This event is a collaborative effort, being co-promoted by Alalshikh`s Riyadh Season initiative, UFC President and CEO Dana White, and Sela, a private Saudi Arabian entertainment company.
In a statement, Alalshikh described the upcoming bout as “the fight of the century,” bringing together “two legends of boxing.” He added, “Alongside Dana White and Sela, we will deliver something truly incredible in Las Vegas for fans around the world to enjoy through Netflix.”
Dana White`s participation in promoting the boxing event initially raised questions, particularly after the fight date was shifted from the original September 12th to the 13th. This change created a conflict with White`s planned annual Noche UFC event in Mexico. However, the UFC announced that its Noche UFC event would not proceed in Mexico due to construction delays at Arena Guadalajara, and was rescheduled as a free Fight Night in San Antonio. This resolved the scheduling conflict and confirmed White`s involvement, which he verified after UFC 316.
Commenting on the promotion, White stated, “Turki wants to make the biggest fights that the fans want to see in boxing, and this is right up my alley.” He expressed his excitement, adding, “Are you kidding me that the first boxing fight I`m going to get to promote is Canelo vs. Crawford? It`s literally a once-in-a-lifetime fight.”
Previously, Allegiant Stadium had been mentioned as a potential venue. However, the date change makes that uncertain, as UNLV is scheduled to play Idaho State at Allegiant Stadium on September 13th. As of now, T-Mobile Arena, a frequent host for major combat sports events in Las Vegas, does not have any conflicting bookings reported for that date.
Alalshikh also announced plans for an international media tour to promote the fight, spanning three cities. The tour is scheduled to begin in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on June 20th, continue to New York for Fanatics Fest on June 22nd, and conclude in Las Vegas on June 27th.
Canelo Alvarez holds a professional record of 62-2-2 with 39 knockouts. His most recent fight in May resulted in a unanimous decision victory over William Scull, securing his status as a two-time undisputed super middleweight champion. He is currently on a six-fight winning streak since his 2022 loss to Dmitry Bivol when challenging for a light heavyweight title.
Ranked No. 7 pound-for-pound by ESPN, Canelo shared his enthusiasm: “I`m super happy to be making history again and this time on a Riyadh Season Card that will be broadcast on Netflix. On Sept. 13, I`m ready to show once again that I am the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.”
Terence Crawford enters the bout with a perfect record of 41-0, including 31 knockouts. His last appearance was in August, where he defeated Israil Madrimov to claim the WBA junior middleweight championship. Ranked No. 3 pound-for-pound by ESPN, Crawford previously achieved undisputed status in both the welterweight and junior welterweight divisions.
Crawford commented on his career thus far, stating, “My perfect record speaks for itself. I am the best fighter in the world and no matter the opponent or weight class, I have always come out on top. On Sept. 13, my hand will be raised once again as the world watches greatness.”
Ellis Thorne 
Percy Harlow