For some in boxing, Chris Eubank Sr. included, the idea of Canelo Alvarez stepping in the ring with a smaller Terence Crawford has always felt borderline “illegal.” After all, Crawford’s jumping up two full weight classes just to find out who really owns pound-for-pound supremacy. But if you ask ‘Bud,’ he’s betting on skills over size. And come September, thanks to His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, this fantasy matchup gets real. Still, some are wondering: could Crawford, like Ryan Garcia before him, show signs of ring rust? Especially considering he hasn’t laced up the gloves in over a year.
Canelo Alvarez may have coasted to an $80 million win in a forgettable outing against William Scull, but a win’s a win. And it made him a two-time undisputed super middleweight champion. Crawford, meanwhile, last dazzled against Israil Madrimov but hasn’t stepped into a live fight since last August. That’s why Oscar De La Hoya is sounding the alarm on their highly anticipated fight. And this time, his concern is for the stakes involved, especially considering this being the first marquee bout under Turki Alalshikh and Dana White’s TKO Boxing banner. So what did he say?
A few hours ago, Oscar De La Hoya took to X to give his opinion on the ‘biggest fight in boxing’. In the post, the Barcelona Olympics gold medalist wrote, “So hear me out. Crawford will be 38. And Canelo is 35. Crawford hasn’t fought in a year and got exposed by Madrimov IMO. Canelo has been getting exposed for the past few years. Can anyone please explain to me how this is the “biggest fight in boxing”?”
So hear me out
Crawford will be 38
And Canelo is 35
Crawford hasn’t fought in a year and got exposed by Madrimov IMO
Canelo has been getting exposed for the past few years
Can anyone please explain to me how this is the “biggest fight in boxing”?
— Oscar De La Hoya (@OscarDeLaHoya) May 14, 2025
Coming from a man who’s claimed 11 world titles across six weight classes, including lineal belts in three divisions, De La Hoya’s opinion carries weight, literally and figuratively. He’s seen what makes matchups historic, and he’s not sold on this one. Between the age gap, Crawford’s time off, and the weight difference, he questions the practicality of it all. Many fans say the only path to victory for Terence Crawford is to take a page from Floyd Mayweather’s playbook when he schooled a 23-year-old Canelo. But that’s a tall ask, even for someone as sharp as ‘Bud.’
Still, not everyone’s buying what De La Hoya’s selling. Just ask Timothy Bradley. The former champion, never shy with his opinions, openly admitted his bias before going in: “Don’t listen to me. I’m just letting y’all know. I’m biased.” Then he let loose on Canelo’s last fight against William Scull. “But I’m just saying Canelo couldn’t catch that chicken [William Scull] that chicken he was up against. How the hell you think he’s going to catch [Terence] Crawford?” For Bradley, Crawford’s movement and boxing IQ are tailor-made to frustrate the Mexican star.
But strip away the debate over who’s fresher, faster, or more deserving. And one man seems guaranteed to walk away a winner—Dana White. How, you ask?
The confusion regarding the Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford fight
Just hours ago, The Ring’s Mike Coppinger dropped a major update: the mega-fight between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford is reportedly shifting to Saturday, September 13. But not so fast BoxingScene quickly countered that insiders say Netflix, reportedly the event’s streaming partner, is still locked in on Friday, September 12 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The conflicting reports have stirred the pot, with whispers of alternate venues like New York or L.A. only adding fuel to the fire.
Why the tug-of-war? No one knows yet. But bumping the fight to September 13 creates a high-stakes collision with UFC 320 (Noche UFC) in Guadalajara. And because Turki Alalshikh reportedly wants the bout to be a pay-per-view event, what Netflix wants might not be considered anymore. And that sets up a heavyweight showdown beyond the ring. TKO Boxing’s crown jewel now goes head-to-head with Dana White’s UFC, putting fans in a tough spot as they decide where to spend their dollars and where their fight night loyalty truly lies.
And that’s where HE Turki Alalshikh steps in, calming the chaos. In a firm message on X, he said: “I will announce at the right time when and where the big fight Canelo and Crawford and in which platform!” So, whether Oscar De La Hoya buys into the hype or not, the fight is happening. And it’s going to be massive. So when the fight finally goes down, who’d you pick?
The post Terence Crawford vs. Canelo Alvarez Fight Slammed by Oscar De La Hoya, Adds to Turki Alalshikh’s Problems appeared first on EssentiallySports.