Pound for Pound king Terence Crawford has revealed the price it would take for Canelo Alvarez to face him in the ring.
Despite the Pay Per View headliner already being ruled out by Turki Alalshikh, Crawford aired his views on what he says is the Mexican superstar pricing himself out of super-fights.
Canelo refused to face David Benavidez or Crawford unless both negotiations agreed to his terms alone. This situation has left Alalshikh looking at alternative options.
Speaking on The Porter Way Podcast with former opponent Shawn Porter, Crawford says Canelo may be worried about losing again.
“I heard him [Canelo] say I’m easy work. If I were easy work, you’d take all that money that he [Alalshikh] is offering you,” Crawford told Porter. “But still, he wants 200 million for Benavidez and 150 million for me. So that just lets me know right there I’m a threat. I’m a threat to him and his legacy,” he added.
Alalshikh, after witnessing Crawford struggle against Israil Madrimov at 154, moved on from the Canelo clash.
“I just wrapped up an important meeting with my team, planning for the upcoming fights we will make for 2024-2025. I decided to disregard the Canelo fight, as I don’t want it anymore,” said Alalshikh. “Instead, I will focus on the US market with bigger fights, especially for the legend Crawford.
“Additionally, I will support making fights for Boots [Jaron Ennis], [Devin] Haney, Shakur [Stevenson], [Vergil] Ortiz, [Michael] Anderson, [Jose] Benavidez, [William] Zepeda and more. Regarding Tim Tszyu, there’s something unclear with the communications between his team and our team, so I believe I will reconsider his situation.
“For the rest of the world, I am definitely focusing on the Riyadh Season Card: Wembley edition 21st of September [AJ vs. Dubois]. Depending on the results and the results of Riyadh Season’s opening card [Bivol vs. Beterbiev] on the 12th of October, I will build the card for the rematch of Fury vs. Usyk on the 21st of December. Then, another big card in the first quarter of 2025. Stay tuned.”
Crawford is unlikely to return to action until 2025, with another 154-pound champion in sight. ‘Bud’ focuses on becoming a three-weight undisputed titleholder and will leave Canelo alone as he attempts to secure three more belts.
The winner of Sebastian Fundora vs Errol Spence, due to take place by the end of the year, will firmly be in Crawford’s sights. However, due to the timescale involved, Crawford may have to take an interim fight and wait for the champion.
Read all articles and exclusive interviews by Phil Jay. Learn more about the author, experienced boxing writer, and World Boxing News Editor since 2010. Follow on Twitter @PhilJWBN.
