Terence Crawford’s return delayed but new contact planned for Canelo Alvarez fight
Terence Crawford is injured and will not fight until after May 2025, according to Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh. Crawford stepped up to 154lbs and became a four-weight world champion at the first time of asking, edging past Israil Madrimov in a tight points decision in August. Crawford will be absent from the ring until the second half of 2025Mark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing ‘Bud’ now has limited options on the table, with talks few and far between, as he has been patiently waiting for a potential mega-fight with Canelo Alvarez to materialise. A showdown with Alvarez is the biggest available to the American as he reaches the twilight stages of his professional career, but he would need to put on 14lbs. The Mexican is currently unified champion at 168lbs and is unlikely to shed any more weight to meet Crawford in the middle. Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh, who has made a host of big events for Saudi Arabia entertainment festival Riyadh Season, has expressed interest in making the bout. But in a fresh update on Crawford’s future, he has revealed he intends to still pursue it providing he can reach Alvarez for personal talks. “He [Crawford] has a small health issue, but he prefers to fight with us after May, Alalshikh said during an appearance on the Ariel X Ade Show. “I don’t know anyone now from the Canelo team, and I don’t have any connection, but if he’s hearing me, we are ready to discuss [a fight with Crawford]. “But I want to discuss with him directly, without anyone in the middle.” Having struggled to reach a productive stages when holding talks with Alvarez, Alalshikh had played down the fight being made. But he made a surprise U-turn and confirmed his interest has been revived providing a conclusion can be reached. Alalshikh wants to see Alvarez face Crawford and is planning new talksGetty And it appears his new plea could be the best hope to see the two superstars meet in a mammoth event. Alvarez equally has yet to pencil in his next fight date, but has a number of options on the table including new challenger Christian Mbilli and a shock bout with Jake Paul. Crawford could unify at 154lbs before a clash with Alvarez, and was previously ordered by the WBO to face Sebastien Fundora. But it is unclear if that motivates him to return at the age of 37, especially now with his immediate future delayed. In any clash with Alvarez, Crawford would likely be a huge underdog and face an uphill battle given the leap up in size. But renowned boxing trainer Teddy Atlas has surprisingly backed the pound-for-pound great to deliver a special performance if he does touch gloves with Alvarez. Alalshikh expects Crawford to fight with Riyadh Season next yearGetty “I’m not going against Crawford. I love his style, his tenacity, his body punching, his power. I love all of it,” he said. “Although he didn’t explode in his last fight against Madrimov, I still love the way the guy goes about his business. But I can’t go against Crawford, I’m sorry. Until somebody knocks the king off of his throne. “Until somebody knocks Crawford off of his throne, I ain’t going against the guy. I think he’s got those special traits.”
Terence Crawford is injured and will not fight until after May 2025, according to Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh.
Crawford stepped up to 154lbs and became a four-weight world champion at the first time of asking, edging past Israil Madrimov in a tight points decision in August.
‘Bud’ now has limited options on the table, with talks few and far between, as he has been patiently waiting for a potential mega-fight with Canelo Alvarez to materialise.
A showdown with Alvarez is the biggest available to the American as he reaches the twilight stages of his professional career, but he would need to put on 14lbs.
The Mexican is currently unified champion at 168lbs and is unlikely to shed any more weight to meet Crawford in the middle.
Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh, who has made a host of big events for Saudi Arabia entertainment festival Riyadh Season, has expressed interest in making the bout.
But in a fresh update on Crawford’s future, he has revealed he intends to still pursue it providing he can reach Alvarez for personal talks.
“He [Crawford] has a small health issue, but he prefers to fight with us after May, Alalshikh said during an appearance on the Ariel X Ade Show.
“I don’t know anyone now from the Canelo team, and I don’t have any connection, but if he’s hearing me, we are ready to discuss [a fight with Crawford].
“But I want to discuss with him directly, without anyone in the middle.”
Having struggled to reach a productive stages when holding talks with Alvarez, Alalshikh had played down the fight being made.
But he made a surprise U-turn and confirmed his interest has been revived providing a conclusion can be reached.
And it appears his new plea could be the best hope to see the two superstars meet in a mammoth event.
Alvarez equally has yet to pencil in his next fight date, but has a number of options on the table including new challenger Christian Mbilli and a shock bout with Jake Paul.
Crawford could unify at 154lbs before a clash with Alvarez, and was previously ordered by the WBO to face Sebastien Fundora.
But it is unclear if that motivates him to return at the age of 37, especially now with his immediate future delayed.
In any clash with Alvarez, Crawford would likely be a huge underdog and face an uphill battle given the leap up in size.
But renowned boxing trainer Teddy Atlas has surprisingly backed the pound-for-pound great to deliver a special performance if he does touch gloves with Alvarez.
“I’m not going against Crawford. I love his style, his tenacity, his body punching, his power. I love all of it,” he said.
“Although he didn’t explode in his last fight against Madrimov, I still love the way the guy goes about his business.
But I can’t go against Crawford, I’m sorry. Until somebody knocks the king off of his throne.
“Until somebody knocks Crawford off of his throne, I ain’t going against the guy. I think he’s got those special traits.”
