Two of boxing’s greatest fighters, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Terence “Bud” Crawford, are set to meet in what is being dubbed the “Fight of the Century”. This highly anticipated clash will take place in the United States, featuring a unified super middleweight title matchup. Alvarez, the reigning super middleweight champion weighing in at 76kg (168lb), will defend his titles against Crawford, who has a remarkable history of winning 10 world titles in lighter weight classes but is moving up two weight divisions for this monumental bout.
So, when can fans expect to see this epic showdown? The ring walk for the Alvarez-Crawford fight is scheduled for 8 PM PT on Saturday (03:00 GMT on Sunday), with the match commencing shortly thereafter.
The venue for this historic event is the impressive Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, which boasts a capacity of 65,000 seats, significantly more than the typical indoor boxing venues like T-Mobile Arena, which can hold around 20,000 spectators for boxing and UFC events.
Fans can follow the buildup and live coverage of the fight through Al Jazeera, which will provide text and photo updates. Additionally, the bout will be streamed live globally on Netflix, requiring a subscription to access the event.
Leading up to the fight, several important pre-fight events are scheduled. A major news conference will take place on Thursday at 3 PM (22:00 GMT) at T-Mobile Arena, followed by the official weigh-in on Friday at the same time and location.
Alvarez and Crawford will compete for multiple prestigious titles, including Alvarez’s WBO, WBA, IBF, and WBC super middleweight world titles, as well as the Ring Magazine title. If Crawford emerges victorious, he will make history as the first male boxer to become a three-weight-class undisputed champion in the four-belt era.
To compete against Alvarez, Crawford, the current WBA super welterweight champion, will need to gain approximately 6kg (14lb) to meet the 76kg (168lb) limit for the super middleweight division. Interestingly, Crawford holds a slight height advantage, standing at 1.73 meters (5ft 8 inches) compared to Alvarez’s 1.71 meters (5ft 7.5 inches). Additionally, Crawford boasts a 10cm (4-inch) reach advantage, measuring 188cm (74 inches) versus Alvarez's 178cm (70 inches).
In the days leading up to the fight, there have been rumors regarding Crawford's fitness, particularly concerning a possible shoulder injury. However, in a recent interview with Fight Hub TV, Crawford dismissed these speculations, stating, “Where I got the shoulder injury from, I don’t know. I see people coming up with all their own antics…”
Canelo Alvarez (61-2-2, 39 KOs) is regarded as Mexico’s biggest boxing star, having won 11 world titles throughout his illustrious 20-year career. Despite a modest amateur background, Alvarez turned professional at the age of 15. Now 35 years old, he is a four-division world champion, having claimed titles in the light middleweight, middleweight, super middleweight, and light heavyweight divisions. In 2021, Alvarez made history by becoming the first undisputed super middleweight champion after defeating Caleb Plant. Despite two losses against legends Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Dmitry Bivol, Alvarez remains immensely popular among boxing fans worldwide.
Terence Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs), hailing from Omaha, Nebraska, began his boxing journey in 2008 and remains undefeated in his professional career. At 37 years old, Crawford is a southpaw and has claimed 10 world titles. He is a former lightweight champion, the undisputed champion in junior welterweight, and the current unified welterweight champion. Crawford is a four-division world champion and has held undisputed titles in two weight classes: super lightweight and welterweight.
The preliminary card for the event is set to kick off at 3:30 PM (22:30 GMT), while the main card starts at 6 PM (01:00 GMT on Sunday). Key matchups include:
Main Event: Alvarez vs. Crawford (super middleweight) Co-Main Event: Callum Walsh vs. Fernando Vargas Jr. (super welterweight) Christian Mbilli vs. Lester Martinez (super middleweight) Mohammed Alakel vs. John Ornelas (lightweight) Preliminary Card: Serhii Bohachuk vs. Brandon Adams (middleweight) Ivan Dychko vs. Jermaine Franklin (heavyweight) Reito Tsutsumi vs. Javier Martinez (super featherweight) Sultan Almohammed vs. Martin Caraballo (super lightweight) Steven Nelson vs. Raiko Santana (light heavyweight) Marco Verde vs. Marcos Osorio Betancourt (super middleweight)While the total purse for the fight has not been officially disclosed, estimates suggest it could reach up to $150 million. Alvarez is expected to earn a career-high payday, with a minimum of $100 million due to a remarkable five-fight, $400 million contract with Saudi promoter Turki Al-Sheikh’s Riyadh Season. On the other hand, Crawford is guaranteed a minimum of $10 million, although his total earnings may increase with bonuses.
Alvarez has commented on the fight, questioning whether Crawford’s team has underestimated the challenge of moving up two weight classes. “Maybe they know, but if not, then I’m going to remind them…” he stated, expressing confidence in his abilities to showcase his skills in the ring. In contrast, Crawford has labeled this match as the biggest fight in boxing in “probably a decade,” emphasizing the high stakes for both fighters.
“Canelo doesn’t want to lose to a guy moving up two weight classes,” Crawford noted. He admires Alvarez’s experience while asserting his own capabilities, suggesting that his speed and footwork could be decisive in the outcome of the fight.
As the fight approaches, multiple betting agencies have placed Alvarez as the favorite to win, albeit by a narrow margin. On average, Alvarez offers a payout of $1.60 for a victory, while Crawford's odds are set at $2.60 across various betting platforms.
