Terence Crawford has adamantly denied using Canelo Alvarez’s name to promote his fight against Israil Madrimov, which took place last Saturday at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. Despite Canelo feeling that his name was being exploited to generate interest in the Crawford-Madrimov bout, Crawford maintains that he did not need to rely on Canelo’s reputation to sell the fight.
Financial Losses
According to journalist Kevin Iole, sources have revealed that the Crawford-Madrimov event suffered significant financial losses, amounting to over $10 million. Additionally, a large number of tickets were reportedly given away in an attempt to fill the BMO Stadium. This indicates that Crawford’s drawing power may be lacking, making him a less appealing option for a potential matchup against Canelo.
While Canelo claims that his name was repeatedly used in the promotion of the Crawford-Madrimov fight, Crawford refutes these allegations. He asserts that any questions pertaining to Canelo were swiftly shut down, and the focus remained squarely on his upcoming opponent, Berlanga. Crawford views the implication that Canelo’s name was essential for promoting the fight as disrespectful.
Instead of taking offense at the mention of Canelo’s name in connection with his fight, Crawford should view it as a potential marketing strategy that could attract additional Pay-Per-View purchases. Even promoter Eddie Hearn acknowledged that Canelo’s name was invoked to generate fan interest in the event. Rather than dismissing this tactic, Crawford should recognize the benefits of leveraging Canelo’s star power for increased exposure.
Overall, Terence Crawford’s refusal to acknowledge the role of Canelo Alvarez’s name in promoting his fight against Israil Madrimov may have hindered the event’s success. By embracing the association with Canelo and leveraging his status in the boxing world, Crawford could have potentially boosted viewership and financial gains for the bout. Moving forward, Crawford should consider the advantages of aligning himself with established stars like Canelo to elevate his own profile in the sport.