Boxing

Canelo is chasing a rematch with Crawford, with no other option

Published

8 months ago

November 29, 2025

Image: An Empire in Ruins: How a Loss to an Inactive Crawford Has Shattered Canelo Alvarez's Legacy

Canelo Alvarez’s decision to face Terence Crawford in a rematch in 2026 is a must. The Mexican star has no choice but to try to take revenge for his defeat against the soon-to-be 39-year-old Crawford (42-0, 31 KO).

As Chris Mannix mentions, Canelo (63-3-2, 39 KO) has no options in a super middleweight fight against outstanding fighters. Crawford is better known than the top 168-pounders.

“Crawford, his people told me that they have offered Canelo a rematch several times over the last few months,” Chris Mannix said in his canal. “He [Canelo] is looking for a rematch with Terence Crawford next year. He’s probably talking about September 2026.

“This is the first time we’ve heard Canelo publicly say he wants a rematch [Crawford]”

The payday that Canelo will receive in the Crawford fight would be set if he were to fight anyone other than David Benavidez.

“It hurts,” Sergio Mora said of Canelo’s loss to the older, smaller Crawford. “Bud Crawford is not bigger, stronger or younger. He just lost to a fighter he shouldn’t have lost to, despite all the belts. He needs to come back.”

Alvarez could have turned down the Crawford fight. He would have spared himself the humiliation of losing to a smaller, older player. It would be better for him if he agreed to face David Benavidez. At least if Canelo lost to Benavidez, he wouldn’t look so bad because he was smaller and older.

“Maybe the injuries kept him from training camp. Since that was a great performance for Bud, I want to see if he can repeat it. I want to see if Canelo finds another way to beat this man.”

It wasn’t the injuries that caused Canelo to pass out after eight rounds. This was his cardio problem that he had been struggling with for years. The rematch will be no different. For Alvarez to win, he needs to build a huge enough lead in the first seven rounds that Crawford can’t come in tardy and steal the decision.

“Canelo has nowhere to go. He is at the end of his career, and he has already eliminated everyone relevant at 168 pounds,” Mannix said.

Financially, Canelo’s best payday, apart from fighting David Benavidez, would be a rematch with Crawford. He didn’t “clear” the 168-pound division.

Several fighters would have an excellent chance of beating him, but they are not as popular as Crawford. He wasn’t popular until Turki Alalshikh started putting him in main events on his cards.

Canelo has no choice but to try to avenge his loss to Crawford. It looks bad on his part that he didn’t insist on a rematch after the defeat last September.

A Navy veteran, he graduated from college with a master’s degree in organizational leadership and a graduate degree in human resources from Brandman University, formally known as Chapman University. Family man, boxing fan…find me on Twitter talking boxing @James_theGrad

Last update: 28/11/2025

Boxing

Shakur Stevenson Challenges Devin Haney to Step Up Against KO Champion: You Have No Other Option

Published

22 hours ago

August 9, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

"Shakur Stevenson Challenges Devin Haney to Step Up Against KO Champion: 'You Have No Other Option'"

Devin Haney is currently searching for his next opponent and Shakur Stevenson believes there is only one option for him.

Haney hasn’t fought since becoming a three-division world champion when he defeated Brian Norman Jr by unanimous decision to win the WBO welterweight title back in November.

He has been rumoured to face a number of opponents since then, including Stevenson himself, but it looked like ‘The Dream’ would finally settle on a mandatory showdown with Keyshawn Davis after Top Rank won the purse bid for the clash last week.

Those plans went up in smoke when Davis pulled out of the contest, and Stevenson has explained why he thinks Haney now must target a battle against unified super-welterweight champion Jaron Ennis.

“You said you’d fight Conor Benn? You said you’d find Xander. Why the f**k you don’t say you want to fight Boots now? Matter of fact, you’ve got no other option.

“There’s nobody else on the table. There’s no me, there’s no Key[shawn Davis]there’s no Rolly. Who do you go to? Boots is free. Go get him.”

Ennis previously became unified champion at welterweight before moving up to 154lbs, making an instant impact in the new division when he stopped Xander Zayas in June to win the WBA and WBO super-welterweight titles.

It remains to be seen whether Haney would have any interest in moving up in weight to take on Ennis, with ‘Boots’ also having been linked to fights against IBF champion Josh Kelly, and fellow unbeaten star Vergil Ortiz.

Boxing

New World Champion Aims to Follow Canelo and Golovkin as Top Middleweight

Published

22 hours ago

August 9, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

"New World Champion Aims to Follow Canelo and Golovkin as Top Middleweight"

A newly-crowned world champion believes he has what it takes to follow in the footsteps of Canelo Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin by becoming the best middleweight fighter on the planet.

Canelo and Golovkin each ruled the 160lb division for a number of years, culminating in two middleweight battles between the pair and one at super-middleweight.

While ‘GGG’ may have last competed in 2022, Canelo remains active, but now fights at super-middleweight, opening the door for a fighter to step up and become the top dog in the middleweight division.

One man who believes he can do just that is Aaron McKenna, who won the vacant IBF middleweight title with a unanimous decision win over Etinosa Oliha in Dublin on Saturday.

Speaking to Sky Sports following that win, McKenna explained how he has ambitions to pick up where the likes of Canelo and Golovkin left off.

“It doesn’t matter [who’s next]whoever wants it. I’m easy to find now, I have a belt. There’s no hiding any more. I want to collect every single belt in boxing. I’m the best middleweight and super-middleweight in the world. I don’t mind jumping up.

“The middleweight division’s there to be took over. It’s been dying for years since GGG (Golovkin) and Canelo left it. I said it again, a year ago, I think I’m going to be the man to take it over.”

The other world champions at 160lbs may have a thing or two to say about McKenna’s plan, as Denzel Bentley is the current WBO champion, Carlos Adamas holds the WBC belt, and Erislandy Lara is the WBA titleholder.

Boxing

Aaron McKenna vs Etinosa Oliha Live Results: Fight Highlights and Updates

Published

2 days ago

August 8, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

"Aaron McKenna vs Etinosa Oliha Live Results: Fight Highlights and Updates"

LIVE COVERAGE

Aaron McKenna faces the biggest night of his career as the Irish contender battles Etinosa Oliha for the vacant IBF middleweight title in Dublin.

The all-action card also features Callum Walsh against Tyler Denny, Joseph Ward’s return at light heavyweight, and appearances from Stephen McKenna, Connor Coyle and Sam Hickey.

WBN provides live results, live scorecards from the two main bouts, and updates from every bout as they happen.

Live Scorecards

Aaron McKenna vs. Etinosa Oliha

Callum Walsh vs. Tyler Denny

Live Results

Times are local IST

18:31

Connor Coyle earned a hard-fought ten-round decision against Mark Beuke but was never in danger if losing on his Zuffw debut, before Stephen McKenna blasted Owen O’Neill out in one round soon after.

17:50

Patrick O’Connor remained undefeated at 4-0 with a TKO victory over Juan Manuel Moriel to kick the action off.

TV Coverage and Remaining Bouts

United States: Paramount+
United Kingdom: Sky Sports

Aaron McKenna vs. Etinosa Oliha – Vacant IBF World Middleweight Title (12)
Callum Walsh vs. Tyler Denny (10)
Joseph Ward vs. Artjom Kasparian (10)
Sam Hickey vs. Brad Axe (8)
Louis Greene vs. Daniel Buciuc (6)

Preview

Aaron McKenna headlines in Dublin against Etinosa Oliha for the vacant IBF middleweight titlewhile fellow Irish star Callum Walsh steps up against Tyler Denny in the chief support.

Victory for both men would move them a step closer to a potential all-Irish world title showdown, a fight Dana White has already admitted is firmly on his radar.

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.