The mega-fight between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford has been called off for September. The bout, scheduled for September 13 at the 65,000-seat Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, is off with no official explanation - though it appears the two camps couldn’t reach a deal.
Crawford was set to move up from 154 to 168 pounds to challenge Canelo for his belts, but the negotiations seem to have broken down. Meanwhile, rumors are swirling that Canelo is shifting his focus to a matchup with YouTuber Jake Paul in May, a fight that will generate huge numbers, thanks to Paul’s massive social media following. (For context, Jake Paul currently has 20.9 million YouTube subscribers and 28.8 million Instagram followers.)
The decision to cancel the fight might come down to more than just failed negotiations. While Crawford has built an impressive record, his drawing power pales compared to the spectacle of a Canelo-Paul bout. Financially, it makes sense: Canelo’s fanbase would likely generate most of the PPV buys, while Crawford doesn’t have the same level of star appeal outside of his boxing credentials. Additionally, a win over Crawford might not carry much weight among purists, since he’s moving up two weight classes.
Canelo now has several attractive options on the horizon. A bout with Jake Paul could serve as both a lucrative payday and a way to stay active, while later challenges against names like David Benavidez or Artur Beterbiev might offer more in the way of competitive prestige. In the end, if Canelo can avoid a drawn-out, one-sided fight, his decision to cancel the Crawford matchup may have been the right one.
What do you think about this turn of events?
Learn about Terence Crawford’s career via this link.
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