Dana White berates reporter at Canelo vs. Crawford press conference, calls question 'for private' discussion

Dana White sharply rebuked a reporter at a pre-fight news conference for Saturday’s undisputed super‑middleweight bout between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford, saying a line of questioning about boxing reform should be handled in private.

The confrontation occurred during a UFC‑style press event in Las Vegas, White’s first such conference since announcing his entry into boxing promotion alongside Saudi sports official Turki Alalshikh as part of the newly formed Zuffa Boxing venture. A reporter asked about the 2000 Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act and a recently proposed bill called the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act, and whether those measures should affect the sport’s governance.

"Well, this is obviously a long discussion," White said. "If you want to talk to me about that, set up an interview. This isn't about me and my business. It's about these two guys on Saturday night." When the reporter, identified by several outlets as Sean Zittel, continued pressing about the original Ali Act and the new proposal, White responded more forcefully: "Listen, if you want to be an a**hole, let's do it in private and we can do an interview. If you wanna showboat, I get it. If you have questions for these two that are fighting on Saturday, that's a different story."

The exchange drew boos from sections of the crowd. Alvarez momentarily diffused the tension by loudly chanting "Fight! Fight! Fight!" from the stage while the two scheduled combatants later held an extended staredown.

The bout at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas pits Alvarez, 35, who is putting four world titles on the line, against 37‑year‑old Crawford, who is moving up two weight classes. Crawford is attempting to become the second undisputed super‑middleweight champion in recent history, a matchup that promoters and media have billed as among the biggest of the modern era.

White’s involvement in the event marks his first major foray into boxing promotion outside the 2017 crossover pay‑per‑view fight that involved UFC fighter Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather. White and Alalshikh announced Zuffa Boxing earlier this year and have publicly backed legislative and structural changes proposed for the sport.

Supporters of the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act say it is intended to update the framework established by the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act of 2000, which was designed to protect boxers and limit monopolistic practices. The proposed measure has been framed by its backers as a way to consolidate and reform the fragmented governance of boxing, which currently recognizes multiple sanctioning bodies including the WBC, WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO.

White has suggested that a unified organisation could create clearer world titles and governance, a shift that would carry significant implications for promoters, sanctioning bodies and fighters. Critics and observers have warned such changes would reshape the competitive and commercial landscape of the sport; supporters argue reform is needed to protect athletes and standardize championship recognition.

After the confrontation with the reporter, White continued the press conference and fielded questions focused primarily on the fighters and the spectacle of the upcoming event. Alvarez and Crawford briefly exchanged words and locked eyes on stage before breaking apart. The fight is scheduled for Saturday night at Allegiant Stadium.