Coach Joel Diaz says it is a win-win situation for Terence Crawford, which is paid millions to set up two divisions to challenge Canelo Alvarez for his undisputed Super Midweight Championship on September 13.
As Diaz points out, even if he loses, he goes home with $ 50 million, he has an excuse to tell fans about his weight gain and can return to the 154-pound division. He can again be ‘the king’ of the 154-pound division.
Diaz says Canelo (63-2-2, 39 COs) can’t afford to lose the fight because it will be bad for boxing. There will not be as much fan interest in a fight between Crawford and David Banavidez as Canelo would have won. It is if Crawford even agrees to battle with benavidez, which is questionable.
Terence can’t wear the sport as Canelo did because he doesn’t have the fanbase, and his fighting style is not so entertaining. Diaz mentions that the reason why 37-year-old Crawford is allowed to fight against Canelo is not because the fans demanded the fight. This is because Terence is friends with Turki Alalshikh. He is his ‘favorite fighter’. So it is a situation where Turki does not want the fans.
‘Crawford became friends with Turki Alalshikhwhich Turki has publicly announced: ‘Terence Crawford is my favorite fighter of this era,’ said coach Joel Diaz to Against the ropes of podcast. ‘Like friends, as business in boxing, Terence Crawford wins. But he wins money. He will earn 40, 50, but no less than $ 10 million. So, right there, Terence wins regardless. ‘
This is an ideal situation for Crawford. He moves up two divisions, pays a $ 50 million report, and his legacy will not harm if he loses because he has the excuse to go in weight. The only losing is the supporters if the fight is a big disappointment, such as Canelo’s match against the former 154 -pound undisputed champion Jermell Charlo.
Fans on social media wish David Banavidez was Turki’s ‘favorite fighter’ so he could fight between him and Canelo. In my opinion, Crawford is a disappointing substitute.
‘Crawford has to sell the battle. He says, ‘I’ll beat Canelo. “But we’ve seen it many times. “Crawford has just moved from 147 to 154. Now he goes from 154 to 160 to 168 to fight ‘the money maker’.”
Crawford had just moved up against Israil Madrimov in his last fight on August 3, 2024, and almost lost the fight. Madrimov is not considered the best fighter or even the best at 154. It was an eye opener to see how Crawford struggled to go from 147 to 154. Now he is not going one, but two weight classes to get a straight title against Canelo.
It is understandable that fans and the chances are skeptical of Terence’s chances of winning. He didn’t want to take a tune-up to show fans that he could handle the weight jump, which is a red flag for some he was worried about exposed.
“If Canelo loses, go off boxing,” says Diaz. “Let’s say, for example. Crawford beats Canelo. Do people want to pay to see Terence Crawford and Benavidez? Come on, Canelo can’t lose. It’s business. Crawford is going to win. He’s going to make millions. ‘
Without Turki Crawford offering a massive offer, he would not fight the idea of ​​fighting against David Banavidez. If he were to beat Canelo, he would prefer to fight a rematch rather than go with benavidez. He does not want to fight against Benavidez if he loses against Canelo. It wouldn’t make sense.
“If he goes home with a loss,” no problem. I went up to try to beat the warrior of the moment. ‘Terence Crawford will lose nothing, even if he loses the fight against Canelo Alvarez.
Crawford is not ‘the king’ of the 154-pound division. He could return to 154, but he would not be “the king” in the sense of the best fighter. Crawford would probably be the most popular as he could stand on the shoulders of Turki Alalshikh for the Canelo and Israil Madrimov fights. There is money for Crawford to make Fighting Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, Vergil Ortiz Jr., Bakhram Murtazaliev and Sebastian Fundora. If it is a great wage reduction of what he fought against Canelo, it is doubtful whether he would accept it.
“It’s going to be like the (Jermell) Charlo fight. They’re going to sell the battle like Crawford will win, but there’s no way, but Canelo will endanger a loss. If Canelo loses, the goat business goes down,” Diaz says.
Last updated on 09/01/2025
