Terence Crawford says he has no plans to retire in 2025 if he can’t face the Canelo Alvarez fight he’s been pushing night and day. He says that a fight between him and the unified super middleweight champion Canelo (62-2-2, 39 KOs) is the one that “everyone” wants to see and answers people’s questions.
Retirement is not imminent
Crawford, 37, is not saying who he will fight if he fails to land Canelo’s golden parachute retirement fight. IBF 154-lb champion Bakhram Murtazaliev and interim IBF champion Vergil Ortiz Jr. they will be eager to fight Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs). Those two champions aging Crawford with the wear and tear they put on them.
However, it is not realistic that Tererence would agree to fight either of those guys because they are huge punchers, great young men, and they would be looking to end his dream of Canelo once and for all. It’s likely that if Crawford can’t get Canelo’s payday, he’ll go in the direction of fighting WBC and WBO junior middleweight champions. Sebastian ‘L’Inferno Torrente’ Fundora because he is beaten.
Canelo vs. Crawford is not really the fight that US fans want to see. They would rather see David Benavidez take on Canelo because he has earned the opportunity and is around his weight class. His Excellency Turki Aalshikh would like to see Canelo-Crawford, who would be seen as a second or third choice for the US public.
Fans wanted to see Canelo fight either Benavidez or the winner of the Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol 2 rematch on February 22. These are much better options for Canelo than a match against Crawford, which would be similar to when former 154 lb champion Jermell Charlo moved up to 168 and fought Alvarez last year.
Crawford is too small, weak and old to compete with Canelo. Fans don’t want to see Crawford follow Mayweather’s plan to run and beat Canelo for 12 painfully boring to watch rounds. This is 2024, not 2013. Fans want value for their money today.
Looking for the best opportunities
“No, not yet. We’re taking it day by day. Right now, I’m enjoying life and I’m enjoying the fruits of my labor,” Terence Crawford told BoxNation when asked if there’s a move on a fight between he and Canelo Alvarez for 2025.
“I wouldn’t say that. Right now, I’m waiting for my options and I’m looking for the best opportunities and options for Terence Crawford in my career,” Crawford said when asked if he’s “done” with the sport if he can’t not getting the Canelo fight next year.
“That’s why you look and see. That’s what everyone wants to see what we’re fighting because everyone has answers (correction: questions) that need to be answered. The only way they can be answered is if I and Canelo get in the ring and fight. So if we fight, everybody’s questions, and what to do and not to do, will be answered,” Terrence said, explaining how a fight between him and Alvarez would play out.
