The news of Saudis showing interest in staging a fight between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford in the U.S in December or January has caught the attention of boxing fans worldwide. His Excellency Turki Alalshikh is reportedly spearheading the negotiations to make this mega fight happen. It seems that Alalshikh is determined to put together the Canelo-Crawford bout and he has already started working on it. Crawford, with a perfect record of 40-0 and 31 knockouts, is set to headline Alalshikh’s event on August 3rd against WBA junior middleweight champion Israil Madrimov in Los Angeles, California. The prospect of Canelo vs. Crawford is indeed an exciting one and could potentially be a huge fight for the fans.
The Leap and the Business Angle
Terence Crawford’s leap from his current weight class to three weight classes up to face undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez is nothing short of extraordinary. It’s not common to see a fighter move up so many weight divisions and go straight into a world title shot against a formidable opponent. This move by Crawford could be seen as a business/entertainment type of match rather than a traditional sporting affair. Canelo himself had expressed disinterest in fighting Crawford earlier, citing concerns about not getting due credit for beating someone who is three weight divisions below him. The involvement of His Excellency Alalshikh in negotiations might change Canelo’s stance on facing Crawford. If the fight does happen, it could spell bad news for WBA mandatory Edgar Berlanga, who seemed confident about his chances of fighting Alvarez in September. Crawford, on the other hand, will have to prepare himself for a tough challenge if he aims to step into the ring against Canelo by December or January.
Crawford’s Schedule and Challenges
As Crawford gears up to face the dangerous puncher Israil Madrimov on August 3rd, he is entering a territory he has never fought in before. Madrimov, with a record of 10-0-1 and 7 knockouts, poses a real threat to Crawford’s undefeated streak. The original plan for Crawford to fight Tim Tszyu was disrupted after Tszyu’s defeat to Sebastian Fundora. His Excellency Alalshikh then decided to match Crawford against Madrimov, setting the stage for an intriguing showdown. Crawford, known for his skill and determination, will have to overcome significant challenges to prove himself in this new weight class. It remains to be seen how he will fare against the younger, hard-hitting Madrimov and whether he can secure a victory before setting his sights on the ultimate prize – a showdown with Canelo Alvarez.