Turki Alalshikh’s UFC 306 event, set for September 14th at the Sphere in Las Vegas, will directly compete with Canelo Alvarez’s fight against Edgar Berlanga at the T-Mobile Arena on the same night. This move by Alalshikh, who is sponsoring the UFC event, is seen as a bold challenge to Canelo, one of boxing's biggest stars.
Alalshikh confidently predicted that his UFC 306 event would overshadow Canelo's fight, telling ESPN, “We will eat him.” The motivation behind Alalshikh’s combative stance is unclear, especially considering his interest in hosting a future event featuring Canelo. Some speculate that this could be a to assert dominance in the sports promotion arena, or it could stem from a perceived slight by Canelo.
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Despite this rivalry, Alalshikh has expressed a desire to arrange a bout between Canelo and Terence Crawford, offering what he considers a “fair price” for such a fight. However, convincing Canelo to accept this offer might be challenging, given that Alvarez already commands significant earnings from his fights.
Crawford, who is keen on fighting Canelo, stands to gain both financially and in terms of his legacy. For Canelo, however, the incentive is primarily monetary, as he already has a well-established career and significant wealth. The outcome of UFC 306 could influence the dynamics of future negotiations between Alalshikh, Canelo, and Crawford.
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