For a moment, boxing fans around the world felt the heartbreak, as the highly anticipated clash between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford seemed to have fallen apart.
What once appeared to be a done deal for September was suddenly off the table, leaving many wondering if the dream fight would ever happen.
However, recent developments suggest that hope is far from lost. In fact, the fight may still be on the horizon, thanks to a major four-fight deal between Canelo and Riyadh Season.
With HE Turki Alalshikh,Canelo Alvarez, and Crawford himself dropping cryptic messages, fans may have a reason to keep their fingers crossed.
Canelo’s four-fight deal
In a recent social media post, HE Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of the General Entertainment Authority of Saudi Arabia, confirmed that Canelo Alvarez has officially signed a four-fight deal with Riyadh Season.
“Don’t mess with the lion… 4 fights for Canelo with Riyadh Season… ” wrote Alalshikh, hinting at major matchups on the horizon.
This announcement sent shockwaves through the boxing world, with fans eager to know the details of the deal.
According to The Ring Magazine, the first fight in the agreement is set for May in Riyadh, but the most significant revelation was the second fight-a Las Vegas showdown with Terence Crawford in September.
Canelo, never one to back down from a challenge, seemed to align with Alalshikh‘s powerful message, reinforcing that true champions dictate their own path. Meanwhile, Crawford offered a more measured response.
“I’m waiting on Canelo in September and going to shock the world in Riyadh Season!” he said.
Before the Riyadh Season deal was finalized, speculation was rampant about a potential Cinco de Mayo fight between Canelo and Jake Paul.
The idea was met with mixed reactions, as it would have undoubtedly been a financial blockbuster, but one that offered little in terms of Canelo‘s boxing legacy.
According to ESPN’s Mike Coppinger, the Canelo vs. Jake Paul fight was nearly confirmed, but negotiations stalled at the final stages. Instead, Canelo opted to sign the four-fight agreement with Riyadh Season, effectively keeping the Crawford fight alive for September.
“Canelo Alvarez has instead closed a four-fight deal with Turki Alalshikh and Riyadh Season to salvage the Terence Crawford mega fight in September,” he noted.
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