The spotlight was meant to shine brightest on Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford, but before the main event, all eyes fell on the opener. Mohammed Alakel, a 21-year-old prospect from Riyadh, stepped into the biggest stage of his career at Allegiant Stadium. He carried the weight of hype and expectation, promoted heavily under the banners of Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing and Turki Alalshikh’s growing influence in combat sports.

Yet, instead of fireworks, fans were left groaning after ten slow rounds against Travis Crawford, a young fighter still trying to make his mark. From the opening bell, Alakel showed flashes of potential. His jab was sharp, his right hand landed with authority, and his footwork gave Travis Crawford fits. But as the rounds stretched on, the fight turned into a pattern that left the fans wanting more.

Crawford pressed but rarely broke through, while Alakel stayed comfortable scoring at range. Judges rewarded the consistency, handing the Saudi prospect a wide unanimous decision victory (99-91, 99-91, 98-92). On paper, it was dominant. In the stands and online, it was branded as dull.

For an event marketed as “Once in a Lifetime”, the curtain-raiser didn’t feel like history; it felt like a slog. Instead of fireworks, fans got cautious boxing, minimal exchanges, and a bout that lacked urgency until the final rounds. For viewers staying awake across the globe, the undercard is supposed to build momentum for the main event. Instead, it drained it.

Some pointed fingers at Alakel for playing it safe. Others turned their frustration toward Dana White and Turki Alalshikh, questioning why a developing fighter was handed such a spotlight with little chance of producing fireworks. Was it a case of protecting a prospect at all costs? Or did they underestimate the fans’ appetite for action? Either way, the backlash was loud, and fans didn’t hesitate to share their unfiltered thought!

Fans take aim at Dana White and Turki Alalshikh as Canelo vs Crawford opener leaves them wanting more

One fan wrote, “will root against Alakel for life for making me sit through that.” The frustration was raw. Instead of being won over by a new name, fans felt alienated. A showcase bout should build a following, not drive it away, and here Alakel seemed to lose ground despite victory.

Another posted, “That was a boring a– opener.” Harsh but honest. For fight nights of this magnitude, the opener sets the tone. A sluggish start risked undercutting the excitement Dana White and Alalshikh may have meant to build toward Canelo vs. Crawford. What do you think?

However, one viewer argued, “Man if Crawford pressed the issue sooner like he did in the last 2 rounds he could have beaten that dude.” It reflected a broader critique; this wasn’t just about Alakel. Travis Crawford’s late surge teased the fight that could have been. Fans saw potential drama, but too little, too late.

Someone else chimed in with, “Well that was boring af. Hopefully it gets better.” Hope became the theme of the night. Clearly, nobody wanted a marathon of cautious, low-output boxing.

Another reaction was more blunt as they took aim directly at Turki Alalshikh with, “Wot a s— start, turkey needs to stop these s— fights happening.” As a key promoter behind the event, along with the UFC boss, he was criticized for stacking the card with fights that looked better on posters than in the ring.

Finally, one fan observed, “Alakel does not look like a blue chipper to me at all.” The verdict was damning for a young fighter. Prospects are supposed to excite, to look like future champions. Instead, Alakel left fans questioning whether he has the style to captivate audiences at this level.

As such, Canelo vs. Crawford will always grab headlines, but for many, the opener set the wrong tone. Mohammed Alakel secured another win, but the performance sparked more debate than hype. Fans slammed Dana White and Alalshikh, demanding better matchmaking and stronger pacing for cards of this scale. If the future of boxing promotion lies with new power players and global streaming, then every fight counts, especially the first one.