It’s usually Saul ‘Canelo‘ Alvarez being called out for fights, but this time the super-middleweight champion has named the retired fighter he would love to face.
The Mexican superstar has been chased for a shot at his titles by former 168lb champion David Benavidez for years. Although fans and pundits have accused Canelo of ‘ducking’ Benavidez, it hasn’t moved the fight any closer, with Canelo showing little desire to make it happen and slapping a $200m price tag on his signature.
Former two-time undisputed champion and pound-for-pound star Terence Crawford has also made it clear that his main motivation left in the sport is to face Canelo.
“To be honest that [Canelo] fight was my motivation.
If it’s all about business then you doing good business. If I’m easy work, which I heard him say, then if I’m easy work you know you would make all that money that he’s getting offered – but yet still he want $200m for Benavidez and he want $150m to fight me, so that just lets me know right there that I’m a threat to him and his legacy.”
Once again the 34-year-old has downplayed the match-up, claiming he would get no credit for beating the naturally smaller man.
So who does he want to face? In an interview with DAZN Boxing, the unified 168lb champion says his loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr is still a ‘thorn’ in his side and he would love to face him again – but can’t see it ever happening.
“Yes, of course [I would like to fight Mayweather again]. I would love the opportunity to get revenge. Obviously we know it’s not going to happen but yes, I would love to get rid of that little thorn.”
Mayweather outclassed Canelo when the two met back in 2013 at a catchweight of 152lbs. It remains just one of two losses on his record, the other being to Dmitry Bivol in a move up to light-heavyweight two years ago. That rematch is much more likely.
