SAUL CANELO ÁLVAREZ VS. TERENCE CRAWFORD FIGHT PREDICTIONS

Saul Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford – Who wins super-fight?

Pound-for-pound kings Saul Canelo Alvarez (63-2-2) and Terence Crawford (41-0) lock horns for the undisputed super-middleweight championship on Saturday, September 13 at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, live on Netflix.

BBN asked their panel of experts who they are picking to become boxing’s biggest star after the final bell sounds.

Erik Morales: “Crawford is the longer fighter. He has more speed, better technique. If things go as planned, Crawford could take the fight.”

Brian “BoMac” McIntyre: “Canelo stands in front of you. It’ll be easier to box him and add up the points as the rounds go on.”

Teddy Atlas: “I liked Crawford before Canelo looked not so good in his last fight. I just think Crawford is really special. I think Canelo is really good. I think Crawford is special. I know he hasn’t fought that resume that everyone wants. But you have that ingredient, I think he has it.”

Tim Rickson, BBN Editor: “This is Canelo’s division, he has made that abundantly clear over the past four to five years. His experience up at 168lbs could count for a lot when in the ring with career welterweight Crawford, who has only fought up at 154lbs once. But, when it comes to skill and ability, I have to place ‘Bud’ above ‘Canelo’. He won’t have to go looking for the Mexican, so I think Crawford could land some very eye-catching combinations on him to win on points.”

- Tim Rickson

ERROL SPENCE MAMES THE ONLY FEW WHO COULD MOVE UP IN WEIGHT AND BEAT CANELO

Image credit: Matchroom / PBC

Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez is just months away from clashing with fellow pound-for-pound star Terence Crawford.

The 34-year-old from Guadalajara, Mexico will defend his undisputed super-middleweight championship against ‘Bud’ on Saturday September 13 at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Canelo captured the undisputed crown at 168lbs for the second time in his career last month when he defeated former IBF champion William Scull in Riyadh, becoming the first fighter in boxing history to accomplish this feat.

Crawford is bidding to write his name into boxing history once again should he defeat Canelo in September, as the 37-year-old sets out to become the first fighter in the history of male boxing to win an undisputed championship in three divisions.

One man who is all too familiar with ‘Bud’ is former unified welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr, who suffered the first defeat of his career at the hands of Crawford two years ago.

In an interview with Fight Hub TV, Spence admitted that he is backing his former rival ahead of his showdown with Canelo, as he claims if anyone can move up and defeat the Mexican superstar, ‘Bud’ Crawford can.

“I mean it could happen, why not. If Crawford wants to challenge himself to be great, let him try to be great, you know I’m with it. I’ll be going for Bud, I’ll be going for him I mean I don’t know if he’s gonna win or lose but I’ll definitely be going for Crawford, I think if anybody can pull it off he can pull it off, he’s chasing greatness so why not.”

The 37-year-old from Omaha has spent the majority of his professional career campaigning at 147lbs, although he did make the move up to light-middleweight last year to dethrone WBA champion Israil Madrimov.

- Toby Morgan

DATE FOR 'ONCE IN A LIFETIME' CANELO ALVAREZ V TERENCE CRAWFORD FIGHT ANNOUNCED AS STREAMING GIANT CLAIMS RIGHTS

• Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford will face off in Las Vegas on September 13

• The hotly anticipated bout between the boxing greats will be streamed on Netflix

Boxing legends Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez and Terence Crawford will face off in a hotly anticipated bout in Las Vegas on September 13.

The fight between the super-middleweight and light-middleweight champions was announced after Alvarez defeated William Scull to reclaim the 168lb undisputed crown in a unanimous decision victory last month.

The contest was originally scheduled for September 12 but was moved to the following day after the venue, the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, was booked for football matches. 

The bout, which will be streamed on Netflix, will be Alvarez's 68th fight. 

He boasts a record of 63-2-2, including six straight wins, and has dominated boxing since losing to Floyd Mayweather twelve years ago. 

The 39-year-old has held titles across four weight groups and his only other defeat  came against Dmitry Bivol in 2022.

Meanwhile, Crawford, who will move up two weight classes to face Alvarez, remains undefeated in 41 fights but has only competed in five between 2020 and 2024. 

Following confirmation of the fight, Alvarez said: 'I'm super happy to be making history again and this time on a Riyadh Season Card that will be broadcast on Netflix. On September 13, I'm ready to show once again that I am the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.'

Crawford added: 'My perfect record speaks for itself. I am the best fighter in the world and no matter the opponent or weight class, I have always come out on top. On September 13, my hand will be raised once again as the world watches greatness.'

He previously said: 'Man, we're going to see come fight time what my advantage is.

'I'm the type of guy who likes to feel my fighters out and adjust to what they're doing.

'I think that's my greatest attribute, to be able to figure out every opponent I've faced thus far.

'I'm looking to do the same come fight time when the Canelo fight happens.

'I'm going to feel great [at 168lbs]. I don't need to worry about the weight. I know I'm going to feel great.'

Turki Alalshikh will join UFC president Dana White and Sela to promote the event. 

In a statement, White said: 'Turki wants to make the biggest fights the fans want to see in boxing and this is right up my alley.

'Are you kidding me that the first boxing fight I'm going to get to promote is Canelo vs. Crawford? It's literally a once in a lifetime fight.'

- ADAM POGRUND

BRAZIL BOSS TAKES FULL RESPONSIBILITY OF COPA AMÉRICA EXIT

Dorival Junior failed to live up to expectations in his first tournament as Brazil coach. ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images

 LAS VEGAS -- Brazil coach Dorival Junior said he takes "full responsibility" for his team's underwhelming Copa América quarterfinal exit after losing to 10-man Uruguay 4-2 in a penalty shootout on Saturday.

"This type of work requires a great amount of patience," said Dorival, who took charge in January, after the defeat at Allegiant Stadium.

"I do have to acknowledge that these weren't the expected results, and I take full responsibility for them, but I do think as well that this team has great room to grow and evolve and improve."

Despite having a one-man advantage after a red card given to Uruguay's Nahitan Nández in the 74th minute, Brazil failed to break the deadlock as the feisty encounter featuring a tournament-high 41 fouls finished 0-0 after 90 minutes to go to penalties.

In the shootout, Éder Militão and Douglas Luiz failed to find the net for Brazil, while Alisson Becker denied Uruguay defender José María Giménez. However, Manuel Ugarte converted the winning spot kick to send Uruguay into the last four and Brazil to an early exit.

Brazil head home after earning just one win in the group stage before being defeated by Uruguay in the first knockout round.

The result also represents a downward turn for the Brazilians, who were finalists (2021) and champions (2019) in the two previous editions of the Copa.

"This is a process; in general, you come across difficulties when you're creating a team," said Dorival, whose team was without the suspended Vinícius Júnior in the quarterfinal.

"This was our first official tournament, and the result was far from what was expected ... our main objective now is to qualify for the World Cup."

Dorival, who has just eight games under his belt, defended his players after they only recently wrapped up their club campaigns before the competition.

"Many of them joined us after long seasons," Dorival said. "Considering what we saw at the training sessions and every day, I think we can still grow as a team ... many people might not understand, things are like this when you're creating a team from scratch. There are ups and downs in football."

It is the second consecutive loss for the Seleção against Marcelo Bielsa's Uruguay, after being defeated 2-0 in October's World Cup qualifier, during which Brazil star Neymar tore his left ACL.

While Bielsa is famed for his high-pressing soccer, Uruguay's coach was asked if Saturday's win was more reflective of the "Uruguayan style," having needed to play more defensive with a man down.

"Everything that happens, happens in Uruguayan style," said Bielsa. "It was a match with very few goal opportunities ... when we were one man down, we decided to dedicate ourselves to defend in our half. But yes, we didn't have very many second-half goal opportunities."

With the victory, Uruguay continued their unbeaten run in the Copa and maintained their upward trajectory under Bielsa since his hiring in May 2023.

Despite Uruguay's 15 Copa América titles, tied for the most with Argentina, it is the first time Uruguay have reached the semifinals since their most recent championship in 2011.

They'll next face Colombia on Wednesday with a place in the final on the line. However, it remains to be seen if they'll be able to call upon defenders Matías Viña and Ronald Araújo after both were forced off with injuries against Brazil.

"In the case of Viña, it wasn't a muscle injury, but there was a level of wear down," Bielsa said.

"Araújo, there is a muscle injury I think that could be confirmed tomorrow or after the relevant medical examination."

On the other side of the bracket, Argentina will face Canada in a semifinal on Tuesday.

The Copa América final will be staged on July 14 in Miami Gardens, Florida.

-  Cesar Hernandez, Staff Writer, ESPN FC

REVIEW: USHER SHINES AT STAR-STUDDED 2024 SUPER BOWL HALFTIME SHOW

AP Photo 

 LOS ANGELES (AP) — Usher emerged at Las Vegas' Allegiant Stadium for the Super Bowl halftime show seated on a throne, joined by a marching band and a trove of Vegas performers — but stayed its center.

It was an immediate confirmation of his position as the ideal halftime performer: one with timeless, well-known hits, masterful choreography, and a devoted audience.

He started with “Caught Up," moving into “U Don't Have to Call," "Superstar," and “Love in the Club.”

Then Alicia Keys joined in front of bright red piano for her song “If I Ain't Got You,” which morphed into “My Boo," Usher losing a glove in an apparent tribute to Michael Jackson — notable for a performance during Black History Month.

“They said I wouldn't make it,” he told the crowd, dedicating the set to his “mama.”

Across 13 minutes during the halftime show sponsored by Apple Music, Usher brought out a number of guests including H.E.R., Jermaine Dupri, Lil Jon (for “Turn Down for What,” which became “Yeah!” — and included a guest appearance from Ludacris).

"SUPER BOWL LVIII EAT LIKE KINGS FOR $2.5 MILLION!!! Wagyu Glizzy, Surf-&-Turf Buffet In Luxury

Rich people are gonna feast like it at the Super Bowl this weekend ... 'cause the luxury suite that comes with a $2.5 MILLION price tag will be fully stocked with the finest grub!!

Some lucky media members got an inside look at the expensive box that'll house 20 wealthy football fans when the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs face off at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Super Sunday ... and they certainly won't have empty stomachs by the end of the night.

The spread consists of some bomb-lookin' items ... from a surf-and-turf buffet with wagyu beef and lobster to carne asada fries, seafood stuffed potatoes, bacon-wrapped hot dogs, cheesecakes and your classic souvenir popcorn, according to reporter Luke Sawhook.

US FAA DESIGNATES LAS VEGAS AREA 'NO DRONE ZONE' FOR SUPERBOWL

USA TODAY Sports 

 The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said on Friday it is designating the Las Vegas Area a "No Drone Zone" for the Feb. 11 Super Bowl as officials tighten security precautions before the National Football League championship game.

The NFL and other U.S. sports leagues have backed a bid by the White House for expanded powers from Congress to detect and disable threatening drones.

"Without a change in federal law, mass gatherings will remain at risk from malicious and unauthorized drone operations," the NFL said in November after a drone disrupted a game in Baltimore. "It’s time for Congress to act."

The FAA said game-day restrictions will begin at 11 a.m. PT (1900 GMT) within two nautical miles around Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas up to 2,000 feet (609 meters) in altitude and expand from 2:30-8:30 p.m. to a 30-nautical-mile radius and up to 18,000 feet in altitude. There are also restrictions around the stadium and two casino hotels at times in the days before the Super Bowl.

THE SUPER BOWL SET: MAHOMES AND AND THE CHIEFS WILL FACE PURDY AND THE 49ERS

AP Photo

 Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs are heading to Las Vegas with a chance for a rare repeat while facing the San Francisco 49ers in a Super Bowl rematch from four years ago.

The Chiefs beat Lamar Jackson and the No. 1-seeded Baltimore Ravens 17-10 in the AFC championship game Sunday to advance to the Super Bowl for the fourth time in five years. A few hours later, Brock Purdy rallied the No. 1-seeded 49ers to a 34-31 victory over the Detroit Lions in the NFC title game.

The Chiefs (14-6) are aiming to become the first back-to-back champions since Tom Brady and the New England Patriots did it following the 2003-04 seasons.

Purdy — who was still two years away from being the last pick of the 2022 NFL draft the last time the teams played in the Super Bowl — will try to lead the 49ers (14-5) to a record-tying sixth title in their eighth appearance.

The teams meet at Allegiant Stadium on Feb. 12. The 49ers opened as 2 1/2-point favorites, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

Mahomes and the Chiefs overcame a 20-10 fourth-quarter deficit and beat the 49ers 31-20 to give coach Andy Reid his first Super Bowl victory on Feb. 2, 2020. Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers spoiled Kansas City’s repeat bid the following year.