The much-anticipated showdown between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford appears to have been called off.
According to The Ring Magazine, negotiations have broken down, halting what many expected to be one of the biggest fights in recent boxing history. Fans had been eagerly awaiting confirmation of a September bout, but the latest reports suggest the fight will not happen.
The matchup was set to feature Canelo, the undisputed super middleweight champion, against Crawford, who recently dominated Errol Spence Jr. to claim undisputed status at 147 pounds. However, the weight disparity between the two fighters raised questions from the beginning, with Canelo having fought as high as 175 pounds and Crawford needing to move up multiple divisions to make the fight happen.
While details remain unclear as to why talks fell apart, speculation is already shifting toward what comes next for both fighters.
Teofimo Lopez Gives His Take on Canelo vs. Crawford
Following news of the fight’s cancellation, Teofimo Lopez shared his thoughts on how the fight would have played out. Speaking on Fight Hub TV’s “Unfiltered”, the light welterweight champion did not hold back when asked how long Crawford would last against Canelo.
“What round does Crawford get knocked out?” Lopez read from a question before confidently answering, “I’mma put eight. Let’s put it on the universe, so I’m going to put on eight, and if it goes the other way, I ate, you know, I ate.”
Lopez’s comments are consistent with his past criticisms of Crawford, as the two have engaged in verbal exchanges over the years. The light welterweight champion has never been shy about expressing his belief that Crawford would struggle against bigger, stronger opponents in higher weight classes.
Lopez also weighed in on the upcoming rematch between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol, predicting that Beterbiev would retain his undisputed title. However, he admitted that he was personally rooting for Bivol to pull off the win.
What’s Next for Canelo? Calls for Benavidez Grow
With Crawford seemingly out of the picture, focus now turns to Canelo‘s next opponent. Many fans have been calling for him to face David Benavidez, an undefeated contender who has been chasing a fight with Canelo for years.
Following The Ring’s announcement, several fans expressed their frustration over the collapse of the Canelo-Crawford fight, suggesting that it is now time for Benavidez to finally get his shot.
Canelo has long been the dominant figure at 168 pounds, and while Crawford‘s skills were never in question, some believed the physical challenge of facing Canelo at a higher weight would have been too much for him. Crawford‘s supporters, however, were confident that his technique and ring intelligence could have led him to victory.
Now, with the fight no longer happening, both fighters will have to consider their next moves. Canelo still has multiple options, including a potential rematch with Dmitry Bivol or a long-awaited showdown with Benavidez.
Meanwhile, Crawford could look to defend his undisputed welterweight crown or move up in weight to face another top contender.
While boxing has seen major fights fall apart only to be revived later, it remains to be seen whether Canelo vs. Crawford will ever be revisited.
For now, the dream matchup appears to be off the table, leaving fans wondering what could have been.