The final Canelo vs Crawford press conference should’ve been about two pound-for-pound legends. Instead, Dana White turned it into open-mic night for meltdowns, and Sean Zittel of the Stomping Ground walked out the people’s champ.
Zittel lobbed the opening bomb, cool as you like:
“Dana, this fight, as you said earlier in the week, is said to be the third-highest gate in combat sports history. The second-biggest gate you’ve promoted alongside Mayweather-McGregor. The top 5 gates in combat sports history come in boxing, and they come in the last 10 years. So my question to you is, why then do you want to make sweeping changes to the Muhammad Ali Reform Act that is meant to protect fighters? To bring about a business model that currently has your company paying, already paid out $375 million in antitrust lawsuits and has two potential pending class action lawsuits on the way as well?”
That’s a proper one-two combination. The Muhammad Ali Act is a U.S. law from 2000 that forces promoters to show fighters the real money on the table and stops them from owning fighters like property.
Dana folded instantly, muttering:
“Well, this is obviously a long discussion. 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.”
The crowd booed him — imagine that, Dana White getting booed at his own boxing debut.
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🎥 MUST WATCH: FIERY exchange between Dana White and highly-respected boxing reporter Sean Zittel after White dodges question about TKO’s attempt to kill the Muhammad Ali Act. 😳Canelo Alvarez: “Fight! Fight! Fight!” 😭#BrunchBoxing @Sean_Zittel @danawhite… pic.twitter.com/Q4fuanzPSS
— Brunch Boxing (@BrunchBoxing) September 12, 2025
Dana White Wobbles, Zittel Keeps Swinging
Zittel pressed on about the California State Athletic Commission. Dana got salty:
“Listen, I get it, you want a showboat right now. Set up an interview with me if this is really what you want to talk about.”
Zittel snapped back without blinking:
“It’s America, baby. First Amendment.”
That’s the kind of line you write on a T-shirt. Dana then completely lost the plot, snarling:
“Listen, if you want to be an asshole, let’s do it in private and we can do an interview.”
And that’s when Canelo decided to pipe up. From his seat, he starts bellowing:
“Fight, fight, fight.”
It wasn’t polite ribbing either. He sounded like a lairy lad outside Wetherspoons, egging on a scrap between two blokes who’ve had six too many lagers. Pound-for-pound king reduced to the geezer in the car park chanting for blood. You couldn’t script it. Crawford sat there like he’d just realised this whole presser was beneath him.
“I WALK WITH A LIMP CAUSE MY NUTS HEAVY” @Sean_Zittel 🫡 pic.twitter.com/lUvjzaBnXH
— Ray Jackson (@RayJack97010720) September 12, 2025
Turki’s Glare and Zittelmania
The most awkward bit? Turki Alalshikh, sat up there fuming — but not at Dana. Turki was glaring at Zittel like he’d nicked his pint. Only in boxing does the truth-teller get treated like the villain.
It ended with this gem:
Zittel: “Sounds good. Well, Terence and Saúl, have a good fight.”
White: “You have a question for these two? No, beat it.”
That’s the closer for the biggest presser of the year — Dana White telling a reporter to sling his hook.
Will Zittel Even Be Allowed In Now?
The big question: does Sean Zittel even get through the door at the weigh-in? Will Turki and Dana blacklist him from fight night, leaving him outside with his camera like some exiled fan?
Because online, Zittelmania is running riot. Fans are already saying he landed cleaner than anyone will on Saturday.
From Dana’s side, it was a set-up. This wasn’t the forum to unpack lawsuits or legislation. He came to promote a mega-fight, not defend the UFC’s balance sheets. In his eyes, Zittel wasn’t playing fair — he was hijacking the spotlight from the fighters.
Bottom line: Dana White promoted his own thin skin last night. Turki glared at the wrong man. And Sean Zittel? He walked away the people’s champ, asking the questions others won’t and refusing to be intimidated.
Last Updated on 09/12/2025
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