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Saul ‘Canelo‘ Alvarez continues to be the biggest draw in the sport of boxing 66 fights into his campaign, though options for high-profile opponents are dwindling.

The Mexican superstar has recently signed a four-fight deal with Riyadh Season which will kick off on May 3 in Saudi Arabia with a unification bout against new IBF Champion William Scull, who picked up the belt when it was stripped from Canelo last year after failing to face him as a mandatory challenger.

Should he win, Canelo will then move ahead with a Las Vegas mega-fight against Terence Crawford in September. For his final two bouts in the deal, options remain up in the air.

Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez suffers shock defeat to Dmitry Bivol in WBA  light-heavyweight title fight - TNT Sports

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The 34-year-old from Guadalajara struggles when asked what fights still add to his legacy, but recently made it clear that he wants to avenge his defeat – only the second of his long career – to undisputed light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol.

However, that appears to no longer be the case, as when asked by CBS Sports if he planned to stay in his current weight class Canelo said:

“Yeah, the plan is to stay in this weight class.”

Canelo has previously stated that a rematch with Bivol only interests him at light-heavyweight, even despite Bivol saying he would move down to fight for the Mexican’s belts.

That – paired with the fact that Bivol is more likely to consider a jump up to cruiser rather than down to super-middle – makes the fight unlikely to take place.

Another fight this decision takes off the table is the long-awaited clash with David Benavidez, who grew tired of chasing Canelo at 168, moved up to 175 and is now mandatory challenger for Bivol. Despite still wanting to face off with Alvarez, Benavidez says light-heavyweight is now the minimum weight for him and there will be no drop back down.

On March 5, news broke that Turki Alalshikh, UFC president Dana White, and TKO Group Holdings (which is the parent company of the UFC and WWE) agreed to terms on a multi-year partnership to begin a new boxing promotion.

In a statement in the wake of this massive announcement, Dana White is quoted saying of his plans for this new boxing league:

“Everybody knows the format. The best fight the best. You work your way up the rankings and once somebody breaks into the top five, there’s no question who the top five guys are in each weight class and they fight it out. And once somebody holds that belt, you don’t need three letters in front of the belt. Whoever has the belt is the best in the world in that weight class. It’s a very simple model.”

Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford timeline: Will undisputed boxing  champions fight one another in 2024? | Sporting News United Kingdom

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When it comes to the best fighting the best this year, the expected superfight between Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Terence Crawford (which Crawford asserted he’s waiting for in September) is the first bout that comes to mind. And during a March 5 episode of The Ariel Helwani Show, boxing insider Ariel Helwani conveyed not only that the Canelo vs. Crawford fight could be attached to this new fight league, but it could also be broadcast on a massive platform.

“Remember what [TKO Group Holdings COO Mark Shapiro] said on that call last week: In addition to… that league, as they’re calling it, we’re also going to be doing superfights. Two this year, two next year. Massive fights,” Helwani said.

“Don’t be surprised if the first one is Canelo Alvarez vs. Crawford. And don’t be surprised if that first one is on a platform like Netflix,” he continued.

Helwani has a track record of only making these sorts of statements publicly if he knows something others do not.

Given that Helwani reported how Canelo didn’t want his now-failed fight agreement with Jake Paul to be broadcast on Netflix, it’s fascinating to hear that this new TKO boxing league could potentially make that happen with his Crawford fight.

Who will go with $150 million, Terence Crawford wants to be the next threat to Canelo’s titles

Following Canelo Álvarez’s recent victory by unanimous decision in his fight against Edgar Berlanga (117-110, 118-109, and 118-109) last night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, several boxers have quickly come forward offering themselves as the next challenger for the Mexican.

Even before the fight, there was speculation about who would be next to try to take Canelo’s WBC, WBA, and WBO titles. Much was said about David Benavidez, Oleksandr Usyk, and surprisingly, also Floyd Mayweather.

However, another boxer who was also mentioned as a potential opponent for Canelo, decided to dedicate a few words to the Mexican after his victory, and that boxer is none other than Terence Crawford.

Too close but far enough

The American was present at The Sphere with Turki Alalshikh to attend the highly expected UFC 306, which took place just 3 kilometers away from the T-Mobile Arena.

Both Crawford and Turki Alalshikh took the opportunity to send a message to the three-time undisputed champion: “We want Canelo next, Canelo come on! We are ready. Canelo – Crawford the biggest fight in boxing. Stay ready”.

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All about the bag

If there’s one thing most boxers have in common, it’s that they prioritize earning the maximum amount of money from a fight above anything else, which is legitimate, but sometimes prevents fans from seeing the most anticipated matchups. Canelo is an example of this, as he shows by asking for $150 million for that hypothetical fight against Crawford. Saul is aware that he is the one who attracts the crowds, so a financial compensation that matches his status is the least he would expect.

Terence crawford

Terence Crawford is a great fighter, obviously, but he’s three weight divisions below. As I’ve already said, I’ve fought against bigger opponents, fighters in my own weight class, smaller opponents, older ones, and younger ones. In the end, I was born to fight, and I’ll fight anyone, but obviously under terms that suit me best. At this point in my career, I’m always going to take the best fights, but ones that are in my best interest” said Canelo.

Either way, this hypothetical battle is what every boxer fan wants to witness. It is just a matter of money. Will we be able to see this clash of titans?

“He’s Going To Be A Problem” Roy Jones Jr Predicts Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford

Terence Crawford wants to test himself in the ultimate way – a two weight-class jump to face Saul ‘Canelo‘ Alvarez.

It is a fight that ‘Bud’ has wanted ever since he became the undisputed welterweight champion last summer when he dismantled Errol Spence Jr inside the distance.

Since then, he has moved up to 154lbs and won a world title at the first time of asking by beating Israil Madrimov on points earlier this month.

Canelo is also a man who has successfully moved up the weights to win tiles from super-welterweight up to light heavyweight and currently holds three of the four belts in the super-middleweight division.

He has blown hot and cold on whether or not he would face Crawford, but talks certainly won’t be happening before he steps through the ropes against Edgar Berlanga on September 14.

In the meantime, one man who knows a thing or two about moving up through the divisions to win titles is Roy Jones Jr, who did so from middleweight to heavyweight.

Speaking to Mill City Boxing, he has given his view on how the fight would go between the two pound-for-pound greats.

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“With Canelo, I like Terence, but I’m going to lean towards ‘Canelo’ with his size early but if he lets Terence get into the fight Terence going to be a problem and if Terence can deal with the size, Terence will beat him.”

He was then asked how ‘Bud’ would deal with Canelo’s power.

“That’s what I’m saying, we don’t know until we see Terence get hit, cause we haven’t seen him get hit with that power. That’s the deciding factor. If you can change Bud’s fight plan you got a chance of beating him, but if you can’t hurt him, you can’t change his fight plan, and you got problems.”

Terence crawford

Terence Crawford is also being linked with a fight with hot welterweight champion Jaron ‘Boots Ennis which Jones thinks could be an even contest, although Riyadh Season’s Turki Alalshikh believes the 36-year-old only wants Canelo.

One Major Mistake “He’s In Trouble Now” Terence Crawford’s Coach Reveals Canelo’s One Major Mistake

According to Terence Crawford’s trainer, Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez would have been far better off accepting a fight against his man when they called him out last year.

Crawford is coming off a career-defining victory against Errol Spence Jr just over a year ago. Since that night, ‘Bud’ has set his sights firmly on a clash against undisputed super-middleweight champion Canelo.

Although the fight would represent a three weight-class jump from the Spence contest and see Crawford ignore being called out by growing welterweight star Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, he told the MMA Hour that Canelo brings far more to the table in both legacy and bank balance.

“Where I’m at right now, I’m looking at the fight that makes the most sense and that’s not Boots. Canelo’s gonna bring way more to my legacy and way more to my bank account.

Because at the end of the day when boxing is done, what will we have? I would have a legacy that’s something people talk about for ages. And I would have a bank account that would last for ages as well.”

For his next fight the 36-year-old will move up one division to face current 154lbs WBA champion Israil Madrimov.

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In an interview with FightHype, Crawford’s coach, Brian ‘BoMac’ Mcintyre, was asked if the Mexican had made a mistake not taking the fight straight away and allowing ‘Bud’ to gain activity and move more slowly into the higher weights.

Terence crawford

“If we do get the Canelo fight right after the Madrimov fight, he might just be in a bit of trouble because he’s has got into that rhythm, and he’s into his groove, and it’s a good thing for Terence.”

Crawford takes on Madrimov on August 3 in Los Angeles.

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