Turki Alalshikh confirmed today that Dana White will promote the September 13th bout between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford along with TKO Boxing. With Dana’s reach through UFC, it could bring in more fan interest and PPV buys for this Super Fight.

 Canelo-Crawford PPV Price Debate

The platform for Canelo-Crawford hasn’t been revealed, nor has the PPV price. Canelo’s recent fights against Edgar Berlanga and Jaime Munguia have been in the $70 range. Considering that Turki is calling Canelo vs. Crawford “the biggest fight in boxing,” it’s reasonable to assume that the PPV price could be higher than Alvarez’s recent fights, possibly even into the $90s or $100s.

That’s too high for this fight because Crawford isn’t popular with mainstream fans. Moreover, the fight is viewed more in terms of money for the aging 35-year-old Canelo Alvarez and the 40-ish Bud Crawford.

Fans don’t know how well Crawford will perform to have an idea of whether it’s worth plunking $90 to $100 to purchase the event, given that he’s never fought at 168 or even 160. The only thing fans can go by is how Crawford fought, making his debut at 154 last year. He looked weak and old, edging Madrimov by the scores 115-113 x 3.

I scored it for Madrimov 7-5, and I had no dog in this hunt. Crawford’s shots were too weak, and he was eating right hands from Madrimov like they were candy. He couldn’t get enough of those shots. Canelo-Crawford should really be an exhibition match, because fans got ripped off the last time Canelo defended against a fighter from the 154-lb division, Jermell Charlo in 2023.

Like Crawford is doing now, Jermell moved up two divisions, skipping the rankings system to challenge Alvarez’s world titles at 168. Jermell felt the power and rank around the ring for 12 rounds, while fans booed.

Crawford’s Age and Performance Issues

Both are coming off poor performances, where they showed that they’re nowhere near the top of their weight classes. The Canelo looked against William Scull, he’d lose to half a dozen of the top contenders. Crawford arguably lost his last fight againt Israil Madrimov but was given a questionable decision last August.

That fight showed that Crawford is too old and small to beat the top fighters at 154; hence, he quickly gave up on his goal of trying to slog his way through the killers, such as Bakrham Murtazaliev, Edgar Berlanga, and Vergil Ortiz, to become undisputed at junior middleweight. Giving up on that goal showed that Crawford knew he had no chance of attaining it. He reached his ceiling, and age is taking over.

Ignoring Boxing’s Ranking System

Many fans would balk at paying that kind of money, given that this contest ignores the typical ranking system and meritocracy involved in a fighter challenging for a world title. Crawford, 37, has never fought at super middleweight, not ranked at 168, and is jumping up two weight classes to be given an immediate title shot. It’s a money fight only. Crawford will not earn his title shot, and it is doubtful that he could if he were forced to run a small three-fighter gauntlet through.

At Crawford’s advanced age, chronic inactivity, and small frame, it’s doubtful that he could beat these three contenders to earn a title shot against Canelo.

– Armando Resendiz
– Osleys Iglesias
– Edgar Berlanga

“My brother Dana [White] will promote this fight. It is the fight of Riyadh Season, and we have a deal with TKO to promote it. It will be the biggest fight in boxing, and tomorrow I think I will tell the details, the platform, and the place for this fight, me and Dana,” said Turki Alalshikh on X about the Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford fight.