After breaking bread in Saudi Arabia, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Terence Crawford got down to the business of trying to sell tickets in New York.
Meeting face-to-face for a press conference at Fanatics Fest in New York City, the two future hall of famers did their best to project acrimony in front of media and fans who paid for the experience to be in attendance, though Alvarez’s light shove of Crawford was unlikely to convince any just yet that either is dead set on cashing in on the $5 million knockout bonus that is attached to their September 13 bout at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Being that this fight will be the first promoted by the TKO Group, which counts the UFC and WWE under its umbrella, it’s only fitting that there was a pro wrestling element to the event. Crawford, 41-0 (31 KOs), played the heel role like a prime Ric Flair while taking in the boos from the crowd, and Alvarez, 63-2-2 (39 KOs), absorbed the adulation like he was Hulk Hogan in the ‘80s.
Crawford, when asked what he hoped would be the response to the fight in September, did his best to generate heat.
“I want all the people in the stands that booed me – they’re gonna cry when they go home,” he said as he taunted the crowd with crybaby gestures.
“I’m all about making history. I was the first two-time undisputed champion of the world. And I can assure you I’m gonna be the first three-time undisputed champion of the world.”
Alvarez, the undisputed super-middleweight champion, was gracious in his praise of his opponent, though he promised a decisive victory.
“This is going to be one of my best victories in my career,” said Canelo, of Guadalajara, Mexico. “He’s a great fighter; a legend, but he’s gonna be good for my books.”
Just like a great wrestling event, this one, too, had a surprise return when Max Kellerman – the former ESPN and HBO commentator, whom the promoter Dana White called “the best boxing analyst in the sport” – made his way to the podium. Kellerman, who has been largely absent from the sports world since leaving ESPN in June 2023, took over the question-and-answer duties after praising White and Riyadh Season head Turki Alalshikh.
In the wake of Alalshikh’s comments regarding “Tom and Jerry” fights, the subject of how to make two big names engage in entertaining brawls regardless of their individual styles has become paramount. The 34-year-old Alvarez, when asked how he thinks Crawford, the naturally smaller fighter, will approach the bout, called on Alalshikh to put the fight in a smaller ring.
“I don’t know what fight he’s gonna make but I’m gonna prepare myself for every style he brings,” he said. “I hope he brings a good style to make a good fight for the people. That’s what I want. If not, I’m gonna do my best to win in every way.”
“The only running I’m gonna be doing is running upside his head,” shot back Crawford, 37. “And he got a big head, too.”
Though it’s a fight that few outside of Alalshikh had been calling for, it’s clear that the event is breaking new ground. Fanatics Fest drew an estimated 100,000 fans to the Javits Center, giving the fight greater exposure. It will be the first to be held at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium, home of the NFL’s Raiders team, which seats an estimated 65,000. It will also be streamed live on Netflix, providing the opportunity for it to be the most viewed boxing event in recent history.
Though it’s clear that the two fighters have a mutual respect, they assure that it’ll be different when the bell rings.
“I’m gonna tell you like this – I respect Canelo, just like I respect every one of my other opponents before Canelo,” said Crawford. “But once it get close to that time, it’s time to go to work. When we go to work, y’all know what comes after that.”
“You hear that? We are professionals and when we step in the ring, it’s gonna be different,” added Alvarez.