The monumental showdown between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford has finally been made official.
The pound-for-pound superstars will meet on Saturday September 13 in Las Vegas, although a venue is yet to be confirmed. The fight will be co-promoted by Riyadh Season, Dana White’s TKO Promotions and Sela, and will be broadcast on Netflix around the world.
Canelo will make the first defence of his undisputed super-middleweight titles in his second reign as four-belt champion, after he defeated William Scull to add the IBF crown back to his collection at the beginning of last month. Crawford is moving up two divisions from his last outing for the challenge.
One man who has been open about the upcoming mega-fight is six-weight world champion turned promoter Oscar De La Hoya, who promoted the Mexican icon during the earlier stages of his career.
After initially giving his backing to ‘Bud’ Crawford, saying ‘he will beat Canelo anytime,’ De La Hoya has now made a u-turn on that prediction.
In an interview with Brian Mazique, ‘The Golden Boy’ said he believes Canelo will prevail against the 37-year-old switch hitter when they clash in September due to the size factor.
“If Crawford can do it, Jesus Lord, I mean give this man the title of being the greatest ever … but I just don’t see it. Canelo is a big puncher. Yeah, he walks on quicksand and that’s one thing that Crawford can use against him, but the pressure of the heavier guy…
“Canelo will be 200 pounds in that ring. It’s a tough fight but, look, I give all the credit to Crawford. If he pulls it off he’ll be the messiah of fighters.”
Should Crawford be victorious over Canelo, he will become the first fighter in male boxing history to win the undisputed championship in three separate weight classes, but the 37-year-old from Omaha is faced with undoubtedly the toughest test of his glittering professional career.
