Background and Relevance of the Boxers
Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Terence Crawford have shared their first words ahead of their highly anticipated fight on September 13 in Las Vegas. Both boxers, from Mexico and the United States respectively, have described their upcoming bout as “historic.”
Key Figures and Promotion
The event is being promoted by Riyadh Season, led by Turki Al-Sheikh. Al-Sheikh signed a $400 million contract with Canelo Alvarez for four fights. Netflix will broadcast the event worldwide, reaching over 300 million subscribers.
This collaboration between Al-Sheikh and UFC president Dana White marks a unique partnership in boxing history.
Canelo Alvarez’s Career and Recent Performance
At 34, Canelo Alvarez is a seasoned boxer who has unified all four major super middleweight titles (WBO, WBC, IBF, and WBA) by defeating Caleb Plant in November 2021. He has successfully defended his titles against Gennady Golovkin, John Ryder, Jermell Charlo, Jaime Munguía, and William Scull.
In May of this year, Canelo won by unanimous decision against William Scull in a controversial match criticized for the low number of exchanges (445) recorded by Compubox.
This fight in Las Vegas will be Canelo’s sixth title defense under his lucrative contract with Turki Al-Sheikh, which began in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Terence Crawford’s Accomplishments and Confidence
Terence Crawford, 37, is a two-time undisputed world champion in different weight classes (welterweight and super lightweight). He aims to add another historic achievement by defeating Canelo, stating, “I’m going for everything – the bonus and titles. I don’t mind having to go up two weight classes; I’m going to make history.”
Crawford, with an undefeated record of 41 fights (31 by knockout), has ten championship belts in his career, showcasing his confidence and skills.
Quotes and Anticipation
During their press conferences in the Middle East, Canelo expressed his respect for Crawford:
“I’m in great shape to achieve one of the best victories of my career against Crawford. He’s a great fighter, a legend, and defeating him will enhance my resume… Crawford was one of the best fighters last year; he’s a great champion, and my brother Turki (Al-Sheikh) really wanted this fight. We’ll give fans an exciting show.”
Fight Details and Impact
Canelo’s upcoming fight in Las Vegas will take place at the Allegiant Stadium, home of the NFL’s Raiders, with a seating capacity of up to 71,500 spectators.
Canelo is expected to earn between $100 and $150 million for this bout, while Crawford could receive between $10 and $50 million.
Turki Al-Sheikh, the promoter, emphasized that this fight will be “the most important in a decade” and an example of the aggressive, bonus-driven boxing matches fans can expect to see in the future.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who are the boxers involved in this historic fight? Saul “Canelo” Alvarez from Mexico and Terence Crawford from the United States.
- When and where will the fight take place? The fight is scheduled for September 13 in Las Vegas at the Allegiant Stadium.
- What are the expected earnings for each boxer? Canelo Alvarez is projected to earn between $100 and $150 million, while Terence Crawford could receive between $10 and $50 million.
- What makes this fight historic? Both boxers have described it as historic, and the collaboration between Turki Al-Sheikh and Dana White adds to its uniqueness. The aggressive style of the fighters and the bonus incentives are also highlighted as key factors.
