Many dream matchups in Boxing usually stay just that – dreams. But sometimes, someone comes along with enough influence and deep pockets to turn those dreams into reality. That is the realm of Turki Alalshikh, boxing’s newest power player who’s been shaking things up in the sport. 

He is not just making waves; he’s creating tsunamis in the boxing world, and his latest mission might be his biggest yet. He may be close to getting Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford to face each other in the ring.

The Saudi Arabian adviser had been trying hard to get Canelo Alvarez to fight for his friend Terence Crawford. However, the negotiations halted when apparently Alvarez asked for a huge amount of money. This somewhat angered Turki Alalshikh, and Crawford went on to fight Israil Madrimov.

I heard what Canelo said that he respects me but doesn't like the way we do business.
As for him respecting me, it doesn't matter to me if he does or not.
As for the way I do business, I know why he doesn't like it, because I only target big fights at fair prices, so of course…

— TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) August 7, 2024

Canelo Alvarez is fresh off his win against Edgar Berlanga. The Mexican superstar currently rules the super-middleweight division at 168 pounds. Meanwhile, Terence Crawford is the king of light-middleweight at 154 pounds. That’s a 14-pound difference – not exactly a small change when fans are talking about professional fighting. But Crawford, being the warrior he is, seems more than ready to bulk up for what could be the biggest fight of his career.

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What Made This Rumor Into A Real Possibility? 

The buzz around this potential matchup got serious during the Ring Magazine awards in London. Both fighters had separate meetings with Turki Alalshikh, and surprisingly, things clicked better than anyone expected. Word on the street is that they are eyeing Las Vegas for September 2025. 

The timing of this fight makes it even more interesting. Crawford is pushing 37, and while he has conquered four weight divisions, he is still hunting for that career-defining mega-fight. For Canelo, it’s a different story. He’s running out of exciting challengers in his weight class, and Crawford represents fresh blood, albeit a bit smaller. 

Turki Alalshikh has named five fights he wants to see: [Froch on Fighting] pic.twitter.com/OQclgam4dg

— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) January 11, 2025

What makes this potential fight so intriguing is the clash of styles and sizes. Alvarez has the size advantage, but Crawford has that slick movement that makes opponents feel like they’re trying to catch smoke. The negotiations weren’t always smooth sailing. There was an initial impasse with Canelo Alvarez, and Alalshikh put talks on hold. But something changed during those London meetings. Maybe it was the British tea, or perhaps it was the sight of those potential Saudi paychecks!

Alalshikh himself seems pretty confident about making this happen. At the Ring Magazine awards, he dropped hints about “white smoke on the horizon” and promised that 2025 would be “a crazy year for boxing.” Coming from the man who has been throwing money around, those words carry some weight. He has already proven he can make unlikely fights happen, and this one seems to be next on his hit list.

The commercial side of this fight is mouth-watering. Both fighters stand to make serious money, which in boxing terms means enough to buy several small islands. But beyond the money, there’s a legacy at stake. For Crawford, winning would make him a five-weight world champion, a feat that would put him in truly elite company. For Canelo Alvarez, beating Crawford would add another legendary name to his already impressive resume.

Canelo Alvarez Solidifies Rumor With Cryptic Comment

Canelo’s recent comments about the fight were typical of a seasoned pro – keeping things open but noncommittal. “We will figure out something” he said, which in boxing terms is like saying “maybe.” But the fact that he is even entertaining the idea shows how serious this could be. Terence Crawford, meanwhile, has been playing it cool, probably knowing that patience might be his best weapon in getting this deal done. There has not been a single word from him since this meeting, and maybe that is what is best.

As things stand, Terence Crawford would likely enter the fight as the underdog. Moving up in weight is never easy, and jumping up to face someone like Canelo Alvarez is definitely dangerous. But that is what makes this potential matchup so fascinating. It’s a real-life Rocky story in the making!

If Turki Alalshikh pulls this off, it will be another feather in his cap and another sign that the boxing world’s power center is shifting to the Middle East. He already has given fans Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol (rematch soon), Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk (twice), and Francis Ngannou vs. Tyson Fury. More importantly, this fight will give fans something they rarely get in boxing these days: a fight that actually lives up to the hype. Boxing fans are sitting impatiently for any official news on this potential matchup and September in Las Vegas can’t come soon enough!

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