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What gives? Megafight, UNLV game scheduled on same day at Allegiant Stadium

Updated June 18, 2025 - 6:19 pm

A blockbuster title fight between Terence Crawford and Canelo Alvarez will take place Sept. 13 at Allegiant Stadium, even though UNLV is still scheduled to host Idaho State on that Saturday.

A post on the social platform X on Tuesday night by Ring Magazine, owned by co-promoter Turki Alalshikh, indicated a deal had been struck for UNLV to move its football game off the date to accommodate the first combat sports event at the venue.

The game remained on UNLV’s schedule for Sept. 13 late Wednesday, however, and university representatives did not return requests for comment or confirmation.

UFC president and Las Vegan Dana White, expected to serve as the chief promoter for the fight, has a good relationship with UNLV and has been a supporter of the athletics program. That connection might have played a role in any negotiations.

The fight was originally announced for Sept. 12 at Allegiant Stadium, but last week it was moved to Sept. 13 with no venue attached.

The final details were unveiled Tuesday, before an international press tour begins Friday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It will conclude with a June 27 news conference at T-Mobile Arena.

White has long been a critic of stadium events, largely because of his belief that it takes away from the fan experience and intimate atmosphere of arena shows.

The matchup between four-division world champions was apparently enough to sway him in that direction.

Crawford, 37, is 41-0 with 31 knockouts, but his August victory over Israil Madrimov for the WBA and WBO 154-pound belts was the first time he has fought higher than 147 pounds.

He will step up multiple divisions to 168 pounds to challenge Alvarez (63-2-2, 39 KOs), a 34-year-old Mexican superstar who is the undisputed super middleweight champion.

Alvarez is a -180 favorite at William Hill Sportsbook for the fight that will stream on Netflix.

Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X.

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