When Dana White & Co. announced that Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford would land on September 13 — the same night as UFC Noche — fans read it as more than coincidence. They saw it as the long-awaited relaunch of Zuffa Boxing, eight years after the money-printing McGregor vs. Mayweather spectacle. However, on fight night, separated by 1,200 miles, the script flipped. Canelo vs. Crawford in San Antonio delivered history but lacked excitement.

Meanwhile, UFC Noche, headlined by Diego Lopes vs. Jean Silva, grabbed the spotlight with chaos, energy, and matchmaking that had fans buzzing. In contrast, boxing’s mega fight drew the “boring” label, and the UFC seized the night’s momentum — leaving fans questioning whether Dana White’s boxing gamble had already stumbled.

Canelo vs. Crawford under the lens: MMA legends explain why UFC Noche wins

On paper, boxing still held the upper hand. For instance, Canelo vs. Crawford generated a staggering $47.3 million live gate, nearly matching Mayweather-McGregor’s historic haul. By comparison, UFC Noche produced a solid $3.5 million gate with 18,005 in attendance. In short, the scoreboard read clear: the UFC won the fans, but boxing won the money. The debate spilled onto the Pound for Pound podcast, where Henry Cejudo praised Crawford’s historic achievement while highlighting the gap in fan experience.

“I mean, you know,” Cejudo chimed, “boxing tends to put on these big events — but they don’t deliver the way the UFC does. Other than that, Terence Crawford was able to make history, becoming a five-time, five-weight-class world champion.” Then Cejudo cut deeper. Years back, Dana White called boxing a “dying sport.” To him, the proof is in plain sight. The electricity of the Tyson and Sugar Ray Leonard eras has faded, replaced by fractured titles, endless politics, and the rise of MMA stealing the spotlight.

Fans still crave the big fights — but instead of Canelo vs Crawford –level clashes becoming the norm, promoters too often turn to mismatches like Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson. Meanwhile, the UFC stands at its peak, blending casual appeal with hardcore credibility. Kamaru Usman doubled down, framing boxing’s struggles against MMA’s explosive rise: “I’m looking at the fight, Henry, and I agree. The thing is, boxing is — I feel like — because MMA now is so big and so out there, everyone expects these fights to look like that, and that’s not the case.”

“I will say this… boxing has changed significantly over the last two to three decades. Significantly. In fact, the sport has evolved. I don’t want to say it’s gotten soft… I think fighters have simply become smarter.” Kamaru Usman makes a valid point; looking back over the past decade, Floyd Mayweather Jr. redefined what dominance looks like, relying on distance, timing, and precision to stay untouchable and avoid damage.

UFC boss Dana White reveals strategy to revitalize boxing next year

Back in 2020, Dana White didn’t hold back on boxing’s struggles. “I dove into this thing and started to look into the sport of boxing, the economics of boxing, that sport’s a mess. It’s a mess and it’s in big trouble,” he said on Zuffa Boxing Future. At the time, even White admitted he wasn’t sure if boxing “can be fixed.” But since then, he’s been quietly plotting behind the scenes. White has connected with young prospects like Irish standout Callum Walsh, building a network that could fuel his vision for the sport.

Earlier this year, he took a major step forward, signing with Saudi promoter Turki Alalshikh to “transform” boxing, with TKO officials and others set to play active roles. White’s announced plan includes launching “Zuffa Boxing,” a project modeled in part on the UFC’s Contender Series format. White has said that in 2026 this format will showcase matchups where undefeated fighters face each other, with more importance given to early fights on the card rather than just the main event.

“Basically, in 2026,” Dana White declared, “I’m going to start my show, and what I’m going to do is basically like Contender Series. The best will fight the best, undefeated guys will fight undefeated guys, and what you will do is care about the first fight of the night, and not just the main event. So I will build stars, put on great fights, and then these guys will graduate and fight with Sheik Turki.”

White’s vision is ambitious, aiming to reshape boxing in the same mold that made the UFC a global powerhouse. However, questions persist: Can White handle the pressures of the sport, particularly if the Muhammad Ali Act does not change to permit more flexible contracts for fighters? Will this new league give boxers the freedom and opportunities they need to thrive? Share your thoughts below.