A blockbuster super-fight between pound-for-pound stars Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford could take place later this year.
What once seemed like a far-fetched idea is fast becoming a reality with credible outlets reporting that the two will meet in September at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Canelo would defend his three super-middleweight titles (WBA, WBC and WBO) against the American who began his career at lightweight (130lbs).
Taking on the Mexican great would complete a 68lb weight jump over the years which has seen Crawford become undisputed at super-lightweight (140lbs) and welterweight (147lbs).
The 37-year-old is the current WBA world super-welterweight (154lbs) champion but his goal is to take down Canelo.
Making jumps through the weights is something Canelo is no stranger to. The red-headed Latino began his journey at 140lbs and climbed all the way to light-heavyweight (175lbs) where he won the IBF world title. He, like Crawford, also secured undisputed status but at super-middleweight.
The 34-year-old could return in May first, however, for a traditional fight date on Cinco De Mayo weekend. Current IBF 168lbs titlist William Scull, top contender Christian Mbilli and social media sensation turned boxer Jake Paul are three names reportedly in the running to face Canelo.
Should the four-weight world champion successfully navigate his way through this May assignment then it would clear the path for what would be the biggest fight of 2025.
It wasn’t so long ago, however, that Canelo dismissed the idea of facing Crawford because of the disparity in weight. This time last year he told Box Azteca, “I have everything to lose and nothing to gain because if I win, they’ll say, ‘Oh, he was too small.’”
Crawford, however, has made no secret of his desire to challenge himself against bigger fighters, namely Canelo Alvarez. Speaking on The MMA Hour in July 2024 the Nebraskan explained to Ariel Helwani why he was aiming for a fight against the super-middleweight champion.
"Canelo's going to bring way more to my legacy, way more to my bank account, because at the end of the day when boxing is done with, what will we have? I want to have a legacy that's something that people talk about for the ages, and not only that, I want to have a bank account that lasts as well,” Crawford said.
At the time, Crawford acknowledged that for the fight to take place it would need the financial backing of Turki Alalshikh.
Last year, the Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority was voted the most powerful man in the sport by Boxing News, with the 43-year-old grabbing boxing by the horns by turning Riyadh into the fight capital overtaking Las Vegas.
Last month Canelo and Crawford had separate meetings with Alalshikh in London and a fight between the two is on Alalshikh’s wish-list.
His Excellency has shown over the last 18 months that when there is a fight he wants to see and believes it to be good for the sport and fans, then a deal gets done.
Should the fight take place, Canelo would start as favourite simply because of his weight advantage. It’s been six years since he fought under the 12 stone limit at a time when Crawford was campaigning at 10st 7lbs.
But such is Crawford’s confidence, he is willing to bulk up and hit the 168lb target for a showdown with Canelo. However, the likelihood is he would come in a few pounds lighter.
The current boxing boom shows no signs of fading and a Canelo-Crawford matchup would serve as further evidence that the sport is as strong as it has ever been, at world level particularly.
Those not confident in Crawford’s chances should think back to 38 years ago when Sugar Ray Leonard defied the odds by moving from welterweight to middleweight to challenge the formidable and seemingly unbeatable champion Marvin Hagler.
Not many gave the American Golden Boy a hope but he defied the odds and achieved the impossible by beating Hagler via split decision.
Come September 2025, think twice about betting against Terence Crawford following in the footsteps of Sugar Ray Leonard.