Canelo Alvarez’s decision to take on Terence Crawford in a rematch in 2026 is one of necessity. The Mexican star has no other options than to try to avenge his loss against the soon-to-be 39-year-old Crawford (42-0, 31 KOs).
As Chris Mannix mentions, Canelo (63-3-2, 39 KOs) doesn’t have options in super middleweight against notable fighters. Crawford is better known as the top fighters at 168 lb.
“Crawford, his people told me they offered Canelo the rematch a few times in the last few months,” Chris Mannix said on his channel. “He (Canelo) is looking for a Terence Crawford rematch next year. He’s probably talking September 2026.
“This is the first time we’ve heard Canelo publicly say he wants a rematch with (Crawford).”
The payday Canelo would get again against Crawford would draw if he were to fight anyone other than David Benavidez.
“This one stings,” Sergio Mora said of Canelo losing to an older, smaller Crawford. “Bud Crawford is not bigger, stronger or younger. He just lost to a fighter he shouldn’t have lost to for all the belts. That he needs to come back.”
Alvarez could have turned down the Crawford fight. It would have saved himself the humiliation of losing to a smaller, older fighter. It would have been better for him to have agreed to face David Benavidez. At least if Canelo loses to Benavidez, he wouldn’t look so bad because he’s smaller and older.
“Maybe the injuries held him back in training camp. Because it was a good performance on Bud’s part, I want to see if he can do it again. I want to see if Canelo can find another way to beat this guy.”
It wasn’t the injuries that caused Canelo to gas after eight rounds. It was his cardio, which had been a problem for him for years. A rematch will be no different. For Alvarez to win, he must build a wide enough lead in the first seven rounds that Crawford cannot come late to steal a decision.
“Canelo has nowhere to go. He’s in the twilight of his career, and he’s already cleared everyone relevant at 168,” Mannix said.
Money-wise, Canelo’s best payday other than a fight against David Benavidez would be against Crawford in a rematch. He didn’t “wipe out” the 168-lb division.
Several fighters would have an excellent chance to beat him, but they are not as popular as Crawford. He wasn’t popular until Turki Alalshikh started putting him in the main events on his cards.
Canelo has no choice but to try to avenge his loss to Crawford. It looks bad on his part that he didn’t push for the rematch immediately after the loss last September.
Last updated on 28/11/2025
