In just ten days, the boxing world will come to a standstill with the eagerly awaited showdown between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford, who will face each other at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas for the undisputed super middleweight crown. The fight is already being billed as the biggest event of 2025 and promises to be a watershed moment for the sport.
For the first time, an event of this magnitude will not be broadcast via the traditional pay-per-view (PPV) of almost $100. Instead, Netflix will offer it globally at no extra cost beyond its $7.99 monthly subscription in the US. For fans, this means significant savings and democratization of access to the full lineup.
The blow for Mexico
In Mexico, however, the decision has caused controversy. For 16 years, Canelo’s fights were broadcast free of charge on free-to-air television, first by Televisa and then by TV Azteca. This time, the Mexican public will have to subscribe to Netflix to watch the champion, something that even the WBC president, Mauricio Sulaiman, criticized: “The Mexican people will be deprived of shouting with joy in this traditional festivity”.
The manager suggested an alternative formula: to broadcast the fight live on Netflix and offer a delayed broadcast on free-to-air television. However, according to Claro Sports, the platform did not even want to negotiate this option. The controversy comes on the heels of the recent unveiling of the new WBC belt, designed in honor of the state of Tlaxcala, which will be contested between Alvarez and Crawford.
Crawford’s camp responds
Meanwhile, from Crawford’s corner, they are not holding back. His trainer, Brian “BoMac” McIntyre, downplayed the narrative about the size difference between the two: “He’s not the biggest,” he said of Canelo, recalling that Crawford has already beaten powerful opponents such as Errol Spence Jr. and Kell Brook. For the coach, the key will be in timing rather than punching power.
Despite the controversy in Mexico, the fight is expected to have a record audience thanks to Netflix’s global reach. The platform is betting on transforming the way big fights are consumed, while Mexican fans, accustomed to enjoying their idol at no cost, are facing a historic change. Everything will be decided in Las Vegas, where Canelo and Crawford will seek to make their mark on a night that is already part of boxing history.
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