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Heritage on the line: Canelo and Crawford Vie for the immortality of boxing

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Image: Shawn Porter’s Worries: Canelo Alvarez's Power and the Threat to Terence Crawford's Chin

Canelo Alvarez (63-2-2, 39 KO) vs. Terenca Crawford (41-0, 31 KO) Finally. The two best boxers from this generation will equalize over 70,000 fans at the Allegiant stadium in Las Vegas. The global audience will tune up to Netflix and will witness the legendary career, but whose? Which man will win on September 13?

Both men are the future Hall of Famers. No man was knocked down in combined 765 professional professional rounds. Each of them was a world champion in four different weight classes. Canelo held lanes, from a younger medium weight (154 pounds) to a slight bulky weight (175 pounds). Meanwhile, Crawford has accumulated lanes from delicate (135 pounds) to junior medium weight (154 pounds).

All Canelo vs. failures Crawford fight focuses on IT on the Super Middle Wweight and its 168 pounds weight limit. As you probably heard, Terenka Crawford never fought in this weight class. His last fight in August 2024 with Israil Madrimov was the only time in his career, fighting with a scale above 147 pounds. Meanwhile, Canelo Alvarez settled in a super medium weight ward; The fight against Crawford will be the twelfth fight of Canelo in this weight class. Those who believe that Canelo Alvarez will win have their choice of aged boxing novels here; For some reason there are weight classes, a good vast man always beats a good little man or anything else.

Some observers criticized Crawford because he did not participate in a tuned fight against 168 pounds before accepting Canelo Alvarez. How can he know how the power from a super medium weight feels without fighting a super medium weight? Terenka Crawford adopted a different approach. Crawford has long wanted this fight with Canelo. He knew that he would have to transform his body to make it happen. Thirteen months ago, Madrimova Crawford’s fight, with coach Brian “Bomac” McIntyre, trained and builds strength with a view to the division of super medium weight. Bearing in mind Canelo Alvarez.

Crawford said he would stand and trade with Canelo on Saturday evening. Alvarez was frustrated by the reluctance of recent opponents to exchange with him. Canelo says: “as soon as possible [Crawford] I feel power, it will be the same. “

Canelo Alvarez is not the only frustrated last opponents of Canelo Alvarez. Boxing fans have recently criticized Alvarez for not fighting the best competition. David Benavidez decided to move on to a slight division of heavyweight, instead of waiting for Canelo to fight him. Canelo Alvarez had the last six fights against William Scull, Edgar Berlango, Jaime Munguia, Jermell Charlo, John Ryder and 40-year-old Gennada Golovkin.

Terenka Crawford rightly receives more criticism for his career than Canelo Alvarez. But because Canelo lost his unanimous decision about the current undisputed heavyweight champion, Dmitry Bivol in May 2022, the boxing groove was satisfied with getting a huge payment and without challenging, as before in her career. Alvarez can learn from the only man who defeated him, Floyd Mayweather Jr. And he tries to maximize his financial earnings before retiring. Or maybe Canelo and trainer Eddy Reynoso realize that his skills are not as piercing as they used to be.

Canelo Alvarez is 35 years aged, and Terenka Crawford will be 38 years aged at the end of the month. But despite the birth of almost three years after Crawford, Canelo Alvarez is much older in boxing years. Saul “Canelo” Alvarez became a professional boxer in October 2005, almost twenty years ago. Alvarez had 26 more professional fights than Crawford.

In addition to getting used to the division of a super medium weight, another unquestionable advantage of Canelo Alvarez is his experience in vast battle environments. This fight will be twentyth time when Canelo is fighting in Las Vegas. The Allegiant Stadium will be the third NFL stadium, which Canelo has a header.

When Terenka Crawford fought with Errol Spence, it was a great fight with Vegas. But this fight with Canelo Alvarez at the stadium 70,000 places in Las Vegas, broadcast globally on Netflix, has a different row of size. Crawford is usually not to be repaid and will probably flourish under delicate lights. But with Canelo Alvarez we have evidence that it will develop under pressure.

One of the questions that depends on the fight is the type of influence of all Canelo’s great fights. Does his experience in great fighting and seeing everything on the boxing ring give Canelo an advantage in challenging moments of action? Or did all these battles reduce Alvarez to such an extent that his body cannot do what his mind is guiding?

The large thread during the fight was Canelo Alvarez recruiting Jaron “Boots” Ennis to his training camp to imitate Crawford’s style as part of the preparation for the fight (together with the Cuban average weight of Yoenla Hernandez). They are both expert in switching attitudes and hitting with both hands, key elements of the unique Crawford style.

Crawford sees it as a compliment, saying: “[Canelo] He fights the best warrior in the world – he takes it better seriously. It shows how seriously he takes me, how he respect me. Because if I didn’t fight anyone, if I were too diminutive, all those things I say I was, he wouldn’t need these guys to prepare to fight me. He would not need all the lend a hand he received. “

Gambit can lend a hand Canelo on the Night of Fight, but sparring partners can only lend a hand so much. If you fought like a Crawford, everyone would do it.

People often try to make historical comparisons from previous fights, while imagining how the fight will go. Will this fight look like Jermell Charlo vs. Canelo Alvarez, a talented warrior moving around two weight classes to be overtaken by a more experienced Alvarez? Or maybe it resembles Manny Pacquiao vs. Oscar de la Hoya, a talented warrior who dominated the class of a lower weight, moving up two divisions to upset the aging Mexican superstar?

The key to fight will be the advantage of size, and if it can be used effectively, not a weight advantage. Terenka Crawford has a 3.5-inch advantage over Canelo Alvarez. The easiest way not to be hit by a larger man is to stop him away from a striking distance. Crawford can utilize its advantage of length and speed to control the fight and frustrate Canelo. Canelo was susceptible to inactive in some rounds, which can give Crawford openly.

When Dmitriry Bivol defeated Canelo Alvarez, he dominated the fight against his stab of power. Dmitriry Bivol had a smaller advantage over Canelo than Crawford. A large reservation is that Bivol has more power than the numbers of Crawford to be at the age of 168. But Crawford can take advantage of his speed and reflexes to remain out of reach and hope that his body will keep the power of Canelo.

Canelo Alvarez vs. Terenka Crawford will be an amazing spectacle and a great fight. Canelo is a modest favorite, approximately -180 depending on the bookmaker. The victory of Canelo Alvarez strengthens his argument for the best Mexican boxer in history. The victory of Terenka Crawford will make him the only men’s boxer who was the undisputed champion in three different weight classes in the era of four stripes.

My forecast of Saturday night is that Canelo Alvarez will win by decision. I believe that he will win seven of twelve rounds, 115-113. I think he will do enough to win the fight on at least two cards of judges results. It will be an electrifying fight. There will be controversy and debate on scoring. He will watch tens of millions of people. There will be boxing at its best.

Last updated 09/07/2025

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Salita Seeking MVP for $25K Jake Paul Fine Amid Shields Cameron Negotiations

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"Salita Seeking MVP for $25K Jake Paul Fine Amid Shields Cameron Negotiations"

Claressa Shields’ promoter Dmitriy Salita has accused Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions of demanding a $25,000 penalty every time the undisputed heavyweight champion made negative comments about Paul or MVP.

The allegation emerged as the dispute over a proposed fight between Shields and Chantelle Cameron intensified, with both sides blaming each other for the breakdown in negotiations.

“MVP insisted on a $25,000 liquidated-damages payment each time Claressa made a statement they viewed as negative toward Jake Paul or MVP,” Salita stated on social media, while also sending his comments directly to World Boxing News.

“We would not agree to terms that put a price on a fighter’s speech. We did agree to a standard, mutual non-disparagement clause.”

Shields vs. Cameron Negotiations

The latest exchange followed public statements from Cameron, Shields and MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian.

Cameron said she wanted the fight for her legacy but acknowledged that negotiations had stalled.

Shields then said her side initially offered $1.1 million before MVP returned with a $1.5 million demand.

Bidarian disputed the suggestion that MVP was responsible for the fight falling apart, insisting his company had agreed to a guaranteed deal for Cameron despite having no involvement in the event.

“That guaranteed pay for our fighter was then reneged on by them and reduced by 27%,” Bidarian alleged.

He also claimed disagreements over expenses, including per diems and security, had become sticking points.

“It felt like we were agreeing to a low-budget production, which is not how we present our athletes,” he said.

Bidarian maintained that Cameron’s proposed payment was consistent with her previous major fights and said MVP had given Salita’s team a final opportunity to return to the original offer.

Dmitriy Salita, promoter of Claressa Shields, who accused Jake Paul's MVP of demanding a $25,000 penalty over negative comments during Chantelle Cameron fight negotiations
Stephanie Trapp | Salita Promotions

Word Reveals $1.1M Offer

Salita responded by accusing MVP of taking negotiations public rather than working privately to complete the deal.

“By taking these negotiations public, you showed that you were looking for a way to say no, not a way to make this fight,” he said.

Salita confirmed that his side had offered $1.1 million, plus an escalating percentage of ticket sales from the first dollar.

He argued that Shields’ history of generating seven-figure gates meant the additional revenue could have substantially increased Cameron’s total payment.

Salita also rejected the suggestion that disagreements over daily expenses had prevented the fight from being signed.

“In more than 30 years as a fighter and promoter, I’ve never seen a million-dollar fight defined by a per diem disagreement,” he stated.

“As we say in boxing, there are a million ways to say no and one way to say yes.”

Despite the increasingly personal exchanges, Salita insisted his team remained willing to negotiate.

“We have always wanted Claressa vs. Chantelle, and we remain ready to work with MVP to make it happen,” he said.

For now, the proposed fight remains unsigned, with both sides publicly disputing who is responsible for the impasse.


About the Author

Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a BWAA-acknowledged boxing news website founded in 2010. A veteran boxing reporter with 16 years of experience, he has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside from major events. His work is published worldwide through WBN and distributed on platforms including Apple News.

Read Phil Jay’s full bio and latest stories.

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Tony Yokas Five Win Rebuild: A Journey of Stagnation in Boxing

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"Tony Yoka's Five Win Rebuild: A Journey of Stagnation in Boxing"

Tony Yoka has put together five consecutive wins, yet his heavyweight rebuild is chewing through critical years without showing that he has resolved the flaws exposed in his three career defeats. Saturday’s 59-55 points win over Kostiantyn Dovbyshchenko in Manchester kept the streak alive, but against opposition well below the standard required of a serious contender.

Six rounds against a durable Ukrainian journeyman on the Buatsi–Hutchinson undercard told us nothing new about the 2016 Olympic gold medalist Yoka. Over the past three years, the former Olympic champion has merely padded out his record while keeping his true ceiling carefully hidden from view.

Yoka controlled the range behind his jab and timed the Ukrainian with rear-hand uppercuts on the way in. What he failed to do was capitalize on that control. His corner repeatedly called for more spite, but Yoka settled for single shots instead of putting together sustained flurries.

Dovbyshchenko has never been stopped, so a decision win is not an embarrassment on paper. The red flag was Yoka’s refusal to turn up the heat on a fighter offering minimal return fire. That hesitation points to an uncomfortable reality: this run has not restored his confidence, it has simply matched him with opposition he can outpoint without evolving.

Yoka still left the ring with a bloody nose and a cut above his eye. Those marks are not catastrophic, but they highlight the danger of letting an aggressive target march forward unpunished. Against punchers with real stopping power, landing early leads means nothing if he cannot survive the inside exchanges that follow.

Scrapped bouts with Lawrence Okolie and Murat Gassiev account for the layoff, and taking Saturday’s contest on a few hours’ notice showed professionalism. Neither factor alters the urgency of his situation.

At 34, padding the record with routine six-round assignments brings zero value. A sink-or-swim test against someone like Frazer Clarke would finally answer whether Yoka can stand firm when an opponent walks straight through his jab.

Queensberry can keep finding him rounds. Finding a win that restores his credibility is the real challenge, and after five tune-ups, that test is long overdue.

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Manny Pacquiaos Next Pro Fight: New Opponent Revealed with Exciting Offer

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"Manny Pacquiao's Next Pro Fight: New Opponent Revealed with Exciting Offer"

Manny Pacquiao‘s next fight could come against one of the biggest names in British boxing.

Pacquiao hasn’t fought since a majority decision draw in a WBC welterweight title fight with Mario Barrios back in July 2025.

The eight-division world champion had been expected to have a rematch with former foe Floyd Mayweather this year, but after that contest fell through, the Filipino icon was instead linked to a match-up on the Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua card next month.

That is no longer set to happen eitherbut recent world title challenger Conor Benn has revealed to Sky Sports that he is interested in facing Pacquiao, having been unable to commit to the date in December.

“He’s an all-time legend. He’s an eight-division world champion. He’ll go down in the history books. Another stadium show sounds nice.

“I know the Pacquiao fight was offered to me for December. And I wasn’t ready to get the fight done in December. But if he wants it Q1 next year, we can do Pacquiao.

December was just too soon, making weight, I’ve got a new-born son, so for me it was really about spending time with my family. If Q1, he wants to get it on again, I’m interested.

“I’m always in the gym, always working, if he wants it Q1 next year, we can do it, no problem.”

Benn last fought in September, suffering a second round stoppage loss to WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garciaand while Benn insisted that would be his last bout at 147lbs, it seems a potential bout with Pacquiao may convince him to remain in the division.

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