The boxing world is buzzing ahead of one of the biggest fights of the year as Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez takes on Terence Crawford in what is being billed as a clash of two of the sport’s best pound-for-pound fighters.
Canelo, the undisputed super middleweight champion, will face Crawford, the undefeated welterweight, in a fight that promises high-quality action, worldwide attention, and of course, huge sums of money. Fans are eagerly anticipating the match-up, which could define legacies and shake up the sport’s pound-for-pound rankings.
The fight is not only historic inside the ring, but also away from it. At the pre-fight press conference, Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the Saudi Arabian General Sports Authority, confirmed that Canelo is set to earn a purse that will likely rank among the top 10 in boxing history, solidifying his position as one of the highest earners in the sport.
The announcement came during the pre-fight press conference when a reporter addressed Alalshikh: “You can be on Saturday the historic person that will award Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez for the first time, a Mexican sports figure, with a guaranteed purse of at least a hundred million dollars.” Alalshikh quickly corrected the figure, saying: “No, you get the number wrong. The contract between us and Canelo, more than that.” The statement left no doubt that Canelo is set to secure a record-breaking payday just for showing up to the event, let alone winning.
After the purse confirmation, the spotlight turned to Crawford, who took a respectful and gracious tone. He praised the support he receives from his fans in South America and congratulated Canelo on both his titles and his historic financial milestone. Despite being the challenger, the American emphasised the significance of the occasion for boxing fans worldwide, putting the mutual respect between the two fighters on show, even though the reported $50 million he is taking home is less than half of what Canelo will be scooping up.
The Mexican's guaranteed purse will likely be one of the largest in combat sports history, reflecting not only his dominance across multiple weight classes, but also his global appeal and commercial power. Crawford, meanwhile, benefits from competing on one of boxing’s biggest stages, gaining worldwide exposure and the chance to challenge one of the sport’s pound-for-pound best, something he isn’t new to doing after dispatching Errol Spence Jr in nine rounds back in 2023.
This weekend’s fight promises to deliver excitement in the ring and headlines outside of it. With combined purses of over $150 million, the bout will rank as one of the biggest in boxing history. Crawford’s recognition of his opponent’s achievement and their mutual respect only adds to the sense of occasion, setting the stage for a showdown that will be remembered on multiple levels.
Fans around the world will be watching closely, as Canelo and Crawford put their legacies on the line. Whether it’s for the titles, the historic payday, or the chance to witness two elite fighters clash, this is a fight that’s destined to make waves in the boxing world.
- Joshua Waite
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