Dana White Dismisses Pay Disparity Claims as Canelo-Crawford Nears
LAS VEGAS – UFC CEO Dana White has refuted assertions of a significant financial imbalance between boxing and mixed martial arts fighter compensation, speaking ahead of this weekend’s highly anticipated Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford bout. White’s comments arrive as teh boxing world prepares for a landmark event streamed on Netflix, foregoing the traditional pay-per-view model.
The discussion around fighter pay has intensified as the Canelo-Crawford fight is projected to generate the third-highest gate revenue in boxing history, surpassed only by floyd Mayweather‘s contests against Manny Pacquiao and Conor McGregor. While the gate is expected to be massive, the shift to a streaming platform like Netflix-eliminating individual pay-per-view purchases-has renewed scrutiny of revenue distribution within boxing. White maintains that UFC fighters are comparatively well-compensated, dismissing claims of a significant gap between the two sports.
White’s response came as reports surfaced suggesting Canelo Alvarez could earn upwards of $100 million for his fight against Crawford, a figure that has fueled debate about the earning potential of top boxers versus UFC athletes. He indicated that while boxing’s top stars can command enormous purses for blockbuster events, the UFC’s revenue-sharing model and consistent fighter compensation provide a more stable financial foundation for a larger roster of competitors.
the Alvarez-crawford event distinguishes itself from the Mayweather-Pacquiao and Mayweather-McGregor spectacles through its broadcast arrangement. Rather of pay-per-view, the fight will be accessible to netflix subscribers, perhaps broadening its reach but altering the traditional revenue streams for both fighters and promoters. This change in distribution is a key factor in the ongoing conversation about how fighters are compensated in both sports.
