Terence Crawford, with an undefeated record and multiple titles, is eyeing a potential fight against Canelo Alvarez at 168 pounds for greater legacy and financial gain, while still considering other opponents like Jaron “Boots” Ennis and awaiting a rematch with Errol Spence Jr.
Terence Crawford could still have his biggest fight ahead of him.
Forty fights into his undefeated boxing career, Crawford doesn’t have much left to prove. This Saturday at a Riyadh Season event in Los Angeles, he moves up to the super welterweight division to fight Israil Madrimov for a vacant WBA title. After that? He may just move up a couple more weight classes for the right opponent.
That opponent? The great Canelo Alvarez.
During an appearance on The MMA Hour, Crawford was asked what weight class he’d be willing to take on the larger Canelo at. He didn’t hesitate to give a number.
“One hundred sixty-eight [pounds],” Crawford said. “If that’s the fight in front of me, then yes.”
Crawford, 36, has spent most of his career competing anywhere from 135 to 147 pounds. He’s captured titles in three divisions along the way and now targets another with his move to 154 pounds against Madrimov. Jumping up to 168 pounds for a bout with Canelo, 34, would be the heaviest Crawford has ever weighed for a fight—by far.
Undefeated welterweight Jaron “Boots” Ennis also looms as a potential opponent after recently defeating David Avanesyan to retain his IBF title. This was promoted from interim status due to Crawford (since stripped of his share of the IBF title) being expected to rematch Errol Spence Jr. at some point rather than face Ennis.
Unfortunately for Ennis, Crawford prefers a matchup with Canelo. This would likely require the involvement of Riyadh Season promoter Turki Alalshikh.
“Being where I’m at right now, I’m looking at the fight that makes the most sense,” Crawford said. “And that’s not ‘Boots.’”
“Canelo’s going to bring way more to my legacy, way more to my bank account,” he continued. “Because at the end of the day when boxing is done with, what will we have? I want a legacy people talk about for ages and a bank account that lasts as well.”
“I think it would be everybody’s choice,” he added. “Canelo would have to agree; I would have to agree; Turki would have to agree because he’s dishing out the money—a lot of moving parts need alignment.”
As for Spence? Crawford defeated him by ninth-round TKO in July 2023 but is still waiting for the call to make their rematch official.
“I didn’t hear anything from Team Spence or his handlers after the fight,” Crawford said. “So everything just kind of went cold turkey.”