UFC Noche on September 14 at the $2.3 billion mega venue, The Sphere, is a celebration of Mexico’s contribution to combat sports, and of Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez specifically, UFC boss Dana White told Grind City Media recently.
Noche at The Sphere is one of White’s grandest visions and he told World Boxing News recently that he has already run up a pre-event production tab of $20 million due to ideation and creation of big budget visuals — something the one-of-a-kind arena is known for.
The state-of-the-art venue has become a headliner itself, and arguably has overshadowed main event fighters Sean O’Malley, the UFC’s bantamweight champion, and challenger Merab Dvalishvili.
White’s event takes place on the same night, and in the same city, as the Premier Boxing Champions PPV on Prime Video, which sees Canelo return to the ring against Puerto Rican puncher Edgar Berlanga.
One narrative ahead of the event regards the double-booking for fight fans who consume both boxing and mixed martial arts.
White, though, does not feel like he’s going head-to-head with Canelo as he insists he’s actually creating an event that pays tribute to him, together with other great Mexican fighters.
“I like Canelo, I’ve met him, he’s a nice guy,” White told Grind City Media. “That night we’re talking about the history of Mexico and the history of the people and their traditions. The impact they’ve had on combat sports. Somebody said to me, ‘So you’ll be celebrating Canelo.’ Yes, we are.
“Canelo is a big part of the night,” White added. “Julio Cesar Chavez, Salvador Sanchez, all the baddest dudes to come out of Mexico — and not talk about Canelo, too?”
Elsewhere, Golden Boy Promotions boss Oscar de la Hoya said he’d attend the UFC Noche show over the Canelo one — even though it would mean he’d be supporting a different combat sport, and attending an event held by a rival promoter in White.
The UFC boss told World Boxing News and other reporters in recent weeks that, while de la Hoya would be welcome at the event, it would not be through a ticket from White’s own allocation.
Indeed, speaking Tuesday, he confirmed to WBN and other media that de la Hoya would be there — attending alongside boxing financier Turki Alalshikh.
Alan Dawson is World Boxing News Lead Writer, a 2 x Sports Journalist of the Year finalist, and 5 x BWAA awards winner. Follow Alan @AlanDawsonSport.
