A superfight between Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Terence Crawford sounds like a boxing fan’s dream. At the moment, that might be all it is.
Despite reports of a Sept. 13 showdown at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, contracts for the blockbuster meeting of pound-for-pound greats have yet been formally signed. However, with Turki Alalshikh’s media outlet, Ring Magazine, fueling speculation, that finalization likely isn’t far off.
For the sake of conversation, let’s assume both the super middleweight unified champion Alvarez and the WBA junior middleweight champion Crawford put pen to paper in the coming weeks. Even then, several hurdles must be cleared before two of this generation’s greatest fighters (no disrespect to undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk) stand across from one another in the ring.
Here are five concerns everyone should have heading into a potential Canelo vs. Crawford fight:
1. Canelo’s health following his next bout
As the first step of this two-part plan, Alvarez is still expected to fight in May for his usual Cinco de Mayo showcase. The logical next step for that is a bout with current IBF super middleweight champion William Scull. After vacating that title to face Edgar Berlanga, Alvarez watched Scull win it in a closely contested match against Vladimir Shishkin this past October.
Reclaiming that belt in what should be a relatively low-risk fight would add further significance to September’s Crawford showdown, restoring Alvarez’s undisputed champion status at 168 pounds.
But boxing is an unpredictable sport. An unexpected war with Scull could leave Alvarez physically diminished heading into September, adding an element of uncertainty to an already complex matchup.
2. Crawford’s inactivity and the challenge of an extended training camp
Crawford has fought only once per year since 2020, a trend that stems from promotional disputes and the prolonged negotiations for his July 2023 undisputed bout with Errol Spence Jr. Now, at age 37 — three years older than Alvarez — questions about ring rust and physical decline loom larger than ever.
Can Crawford maintain his dominance while moving up two full weight classes? Will inactivity finally catch up to him? A long training camp to adjust to 168 pounds after winning his first title at 135 pounds and most recently fighting at 154 pounds may be a blessing, but it could also drain a fighter whose style relies on sharp reflexes and impeccable timing.
3. Canelo’s motivation beyond money
Alvarez has long dismissed the idea of fighting Crawford, citing the size disparity as a significant disadvantage.
“He has everything to win, nothing to lose. Me? It’s different,” Alvarez previously told ESPN Deportes.
So, what changed? Alalshikh’s financial backing is an undeniable factor, but there may be more at play. Alvarez’s growing role as a promoter, managing fighters like multi-division champion Teofimo Lopez and former opponent Jaime Munguia, suggests a bigger business plan in motion. This fight may be as much about cementing his legacy in the ring as it is about solidifying his future outside of it.
A victory over Crawford wouldn’t just enhance Alvarez’s standing as one of the sport’s all-time greats — it would also bolster his credibility as a power player on the business side of boxing. By taking on a generational talent like Crawford, “Canelo” not only silences critics but also strengthens his brand, making future negotiations, promotional deals and fighter recruitment even more lucrative. Much like Oscar De La Hoya used his own fights with Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather later in his career, the Crawford bout could be the stepping stone to a full-fledged promotional empire for “Canelo,” allowing him to transition seamlessly into the role of a boxing mogul once his in-ring career winds down.
4. Crawford’s physical adjustments to 168 pounds
At welterweight, Crawford dismantled opponents with surgical precision, creating an aura of invincibility. However, his move to junior middleweight raised new questions. His grueling battle with Israil Madrimov this past August left some wondering whether his skills translate against bigger, stronger opponents.
“I walk around heavier than people think, but it’s different when you gotta fight there,” Crawford admitted in a past interview with BoxingScene.
Seven months now remain for him to adapt his body to the 168-pound class. Roy Jones Jr.’s jump to heavyweight in the late 1990s proved that moving up in weight requires more than adding pounds — it demands a complete physical transformation. At age 37, does Crawford have that in him?
5. The stagnation of the 154– and 168–pound divisions for the rest of 2025
Both “Canelo” and Crawford sit atop their respective weight classes, and clear paths were already laid out for both them before news of this superfight emerged.
Crawford seemed poised for a unification bout with WBC and WBO junior middleweight champion Sebastian Fundora after negotiations with Spence stalled. A summer victory over Fundora would have given Crawford three of the four major belts at 154 pounds, setting up a winter clash with Bakhram Murtazaliev and positioning him to become the first three-division undisputed men’s champion of boxing’s four-belt era.
Meanwhile, Alvarez’s 168-pound options appeared plentiful. Scull has waited patiently for his shot. Christian Mbilli loomed as another mandatory. Young star Diego Pacheco is knocking on the door. And then there’s Dmitry Bivol.
Should Bivol defeat Artur Beterbiev in their upcoming Feb. 22 rematch for the undisputed light heavyweight title, a Bivol vs. Alvarez rematch for undisputed status at 175 pounds would be the ultimate legacy fight.
A high-profile victory over Crawford in September could still set the stage for Alvarez to bypass challengers like David Benavidez and move straight into a historic showdown with Bivol or Beterbiev in 2026, but boxing history has shown that even the best-laid plans can unravel quickly.
Can this fight actually happen?
With seven months until fight night, a lot can go wrong. Injury, failed negotiations or a change of heart from either fighter could derail the bout. But if everything aligns, Alvarez vs. Crawford will not only be the biggest fight of 2025 — it will be the biggest real boxing fight since Mayweather vs. Pacquiao in 2015.
For now, boxing fans should hope for just one simple thing: Both men making it to the ring healthy. Because if they do, history awaits.
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