The talk of the town is this possible dust-up between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford, after the couple had a meeting with His Excellency Turki Alalshikh in London. Now, on paper, this fight is the stuff of dreams – two legends, plenty of belts between them, and the kind of matchup that makes fans weak at the knees. But here’s the rub: where does it happen?
Saudi Arabia has tried to crown itself the “wrestling capital of the world”, as if they are the new Vegas or something. But let’s be real, throwing money at a sport doesn’t mean you have its soul. Riyadh might have all the gold, but where is the atmosphere? The passion? Die-hard fans screaming from the cheap seats? Eddie Hearn didn’t buy the idea either. He said DAZN News“Canelo vs. Crawford only works for me in America. I’m not sure if Canelo-Crawford will happen in Saudi if I’m honest, or at all.”
And honestly, he has a point. Fights like this aren’t just about two guys punishing each other – it’s about legacy. It’s about the roaring crowd at Madison Square Garden or T-Mobile Arena. You won’t get the same vibe with VIPs sipping mocktails in Riyadh, pretending they know who’s in the ring.
Now, let’s talk about the fighters. Crawford? Man is a machine. He became a four-weight world champion in 2024 after dismantling Israil Madrimov. He is at the peak of his powers. And then there’s Canelo, who has been fine with wins over Jaime Munguia and Edgar Berlanga. But as Hearn put it, “I don’t see many options for Canelo at the moment.” Translation? This fight could be massive, but it’s also a bit of a last roll of the dice for both of them.
If this fight happens – and it’s still a big if – it needs to be somewhere that understands boxing. A place with history, with real fans, not just people for Instagram photos. Vegas, MSG, Wembley or even Tottenham – take your pick. Anywhere but a soulless desert PR exercise.
So, fingers crossed this fight gets done and gets the stage it deserves. Because boxing is about more than just money – it’s about the roar of the crowd, history in the air, and two legends giving it everything they’ve got. And no amount of Saudi money can buy it.
‼️ Turki Alalshikh’s meeting with Terence Crawford, just one day after the meeting with Canelo…
Alalshikh exclusively told The Ring: “The ring is the bible of boxing, and we’re about to see white smoke on the horizon… 2025 is going to be a crazy year for boxing and I mean it.” pic.twitter.com/YusEW7pvdN
— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) January 13, 2025
