Dana White Blasted for “Embarrassing” Setup at Canelo vs. Crawford as Commentary Tables Moved to Sell More Ringside Seat

In Thursday’s pre-fight press conference, a reporter named Sean Zittel asked Dana White about him amending the Muhammad Ali Act. The Saturday’s historic event was, of course, Zuffa Boxing’s first stint in the sport. White, clearly, did not want to answer any question that could put the spotlight on him. However, instead of handling the discussion, the UFC boss caught strays from the boxing world as he asked the reporter to “beat it” unless he had a question for Canelo Alvarez or Terence Crawford. While Zittel finally stepped back, accepting White’s invitation to a private interview, the interaction didn’t take long to go viral. For the same fight, BoxingScene reported that their person, Lance Pugmire, was denied accreditation due to his “strained relationship with multiple stakeholders.” If these incidents were not enough, Dana White got himself into another pickle.

Dana White’s handling of the Terence Crawford-Canelo Alvarez fight has already erupted in controversy, as talks over the media seating arrangement at the event have heated up. Fans and journalists alike rushed to social media to express their dissatisfaction, as veteran boxing journalist Dan Rafael posted a photo of the media section from the night’s event.

The picture highlighted how far it was from the action. And surely, the distance left many wondering if reporters and commentators would even be able to see the fight up close without help. Fans were quick to pile on, expressing their disbelief at the setup. “Wonder if they hand out binoculars,” one user joked, while another wrote, “That’s an embarrassing look for the sport. This is really the best they could do for the media? Eww.”

Others chimed in with, “Can’t see s— from there,” and “Ringside has become a thing of the past,” emphasizing how wrong it was to keep the media away from the ring during such a historic bout. Well, it truly looks like the positioning of the seats surely irked many fans who believed they had better seats at home.

However, it is worth noting that while several fans called out Dana White, some others defended the move, citing the commercial realities. “Thought y’all get a free ride?” one person asked, suggesting that media outlets should not complain about free access.

Another said, “Too much money to be made off ringside seats,” while a third simply stated, “At least you’re getting free seats,” indicating that this arrangement was still a luxury as compared to purchasing expensive tickets. The criticism derives from the fact that this match, dubbed “Once in a Lifetime,” was meant to be a spectacle worthy of boxing’s rich traditions, not one that compromises coverage.

Dana White‘s involvement as a promoter, his first major venture into boxing, has only fueled the fire. Fans expected top-notch press hospitality, especially since White promised one of the sport’s most historic nights. Despite the criticism, this fight’s magnitude and the legacy stakes for both fighters cannot be ignored.

While some fans are dissatisfied, many are still tuning in for the Canelo Alvarez-Terence Crawford bout, proving that the fight’s appeal outweighs the logistical issues. Still, for the journalists covering the event live, the distance from the ring has become the biggest story outside the ring. It is also worth noting that White has been having a tough time with journalists overall, as the UFC CEO also had a fiery exchange with a reporter in Vegas just a day or two before the fight.

Dana White goes off on the media ahead of boxing clash

Dana White’s spat with the media occurred when the fight’s buildup was at its peak. Just a day before, fans were furious over the press arrangements; many were already mad at his recent aggressive response, which only fueled the anger. When questions regarding boxing regulations arose in a recent press conference promoting the bout, White’s impatience quickly shifted the focus from the fighters to himself, making his entry into boxing seem more disruptive than welcome.

His abrupt dismissal of a reporter’s concerns did not go unnoticed. “This is obviously a long discussion. If you want to talk about that, then set up an interview. This isn’t about me,” he snapped, before cutting the reporter off with, “You have a question for these two, no? Beat it.”

White’s reaction highlighted how comfortable he is with controlling the narrative in the UFC but less at ease in boxing’s traditional media environment. Despite this, the boxers and the audience attempted to draw focus back to the massive event. As White fought with the reporter, Canelo Alvarez hyped up the crowd by yelling, “Fight, fight, fight.”

But the controversy laid bare concerns about White’s approach—his attempt to change the Muhammad Ali Act and bring UFC-style authority to boxing raises concerns about potential monopolies and limiting boxers’ rights at a time when this event should be all about the sport’s biggest clash.