TerenceEddie Hearn suspects Terence Crawford would make a U-turn on his retirement for the chance to become a four-division undisputed king.

The 39-year-old announced his exit from the sport last December, just a few months after moving up two weight classes and unanimously outpointing Canelo Alvarez.

In doing so, he made history by becoming the first male three-division undisputed champion in the four-belt era, while Claressa Shields was the first woman to do so around seven months earlier.

Having cemented his legacy, Crawford then chose to retire after being linked to an immediate rematch with Canelo, who remains eager to exact his revenge at 168lbs.

Rather than going over old ground, though, Matchroom promoter Hearn feels Crawford would be more enticed by an undisputed clash with Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis.

For that to happen, Ennis must first dethrone IBF champion Josh Kelly on February 27, before colliding with his WBC counterpart, Sebastian Fundora, for all four major belts at 154lbs.

Then, if he dethrones Fundora, Hearn has told IFL TV that he believes the 29-year-old, who currently holds the WBO and WBA titles, would become a far more realistic opponent for Crawford.

“If Boots wins [against Kelly]he’ll fight Fundora. He’ll beat Fundora; he’ll be undisputed. I think he fights Crawford after that. I think [Crawford] wants to come back.

“I don’t think Boots is at the top of his list. But if Boots became undisputed, how big’s that fight?”

Indeed, Crawford is unlikely to come out of retirement, and may not do so anyway, unless there is a financial and history-making incentive.

Canelo Alvarez has reclaimed his position atop the super middleweight division and is on the lookout for his next worthy opponent. Now, the self-proclaimed ‘best boxer on the planet’ has declared that his ambition to compete for the Mexican’s title.

Alvarez got the better of Christian Mbilli to regain the WBC super-middleweight world title, 13 months after losing the undisputed crown to Terence Crawford in his first ever defeat in the 168lb division.

Since trumping Mbilli, Canelo has called for a shot at vengeance against Crawford, but the Omaha southpaw, who retired last December, has not reciprocated that interest.

Instead, for an anticipated spring 2027 return, Canelo has been linked to defences against Hamzah Sheeraz and Diego Pacheco, but has also revealed his interest in a challenge for Willy Hutchinson’s WBC light-heavyweight title.

Although, on Xformer unified middleweight titleholder Janibek Alimkhanuly expressed his keenness to take on the four-division world champion, in a potential super-middleweight world title unification.

“I’m really looking forward to this fight! Canelo knows me, and his team knows me.

“I don’t think they’ll agree to fight the best boxer on the planet. But if they do agree, the whole world will be watching this fight.”

Alimkhanuly will venture to Denmark and challenge Jacob Bank for the vacant WBO super-middleweight crown on Saturday, January 23; a timeline which will likely rule him out of contention as Alvarez’s next dance partner.

However, should Alimkhanuly get his hands on the WBO strap, a unification could be an attractive option for Canelo for later on in 2027.

Floyd Schofield’s blazing hand speed won him a world title, but it might be the exact thing that gets him knocked out in his first defense. With the WBA ordering a mandatory clash against José Valenzuela and giving both camps until December 11 to make a deal, former champion Tim Bradley is warning that Schofield’s reckless entries could turn a showcase fight into a 50/50 nightmare.

“I think it damn near could be 50/50,” Bradley said on his channel. “Schofield’s most explosive attacks often leave him completely exposed defensively. When he lunges into a combination and lets his lead foot slip inside Valenzuela’s, his chin remains directly in the path of the southpaw’s power hand.

Valenzuela can step back and fire a straight left while Schofield’s momentum is still carrying him forward. In tight quarters, the left uppercut opens up whenever Schofield leans too far over his front knee.

Bradley pointed to Schofield’s lead left hook as a major weapon that could disrupt Valenzuela’s rhythm. During his unanimous decision win over Lucas Bahdi for the vacant belt in October, Schofield established his jab early.

Using that same jab against Valenzuela could bait a reaction and create an opening to whip the hook around the guard from a stable base. The real challenge arrives the moment Valenzuela lands something clean.

If Schofield panics and tries to get immediate payback with a wild flurry, he walks right back into the same counter trap.

Valenzuela’s career path explains why Bradley respects his ability to solve fast fighters. After dropping decisions to Chris Colbert and Edwin De Los Santos, Valenzuela came back to stop both men in rematches. He also outboxed Isaac Cruz to capture a WBA junior welterweight title before losing the belt to Gary Antuanne Russell in his first defense.

Cruz marched forward in predictable waves, giving Valenzuela plenty of time to read his entries. Schofield closes distance in sudden bursts and exits before a receipt can arrive. Those rematch wins over Colbert and De Los Santos prove Valenzuela can figure out quicker opponents, though he will have to crack Schofield’s timing on the fly without the luxury of a prior meeting.

Valenzuela already proved he can still make 135 pounds and carry real power there, wiping out De Los Santos in two rounds at lightweight back in June. Dragging that weight cut into the championship rounds against Schofield presents a much steeper test. If draining down to lightweight saps his legs late, the warning sign will be counters landing a fraction of a second too late. Schofield can bank rounds by forcing Valenzuela to constantly reset his feet every time an opening disappears.

Bradley also questioned why the WBA stepped in while Schofield and Abdullah Mason were reportedly exploring a unification bout. Bradley wanted to see that matchup play out, even though he felt Mason’s hand speed made the fight premature for Schofield. Now, the mandatory ruling puts Golden Boy on the clock.

Schofield claimed his title on DAZNwhile Valenzuela most recently competed on a Zuffa card. If negotiations stall and the WBA orders a purse bid, the highest qualified bidder takes promotional control under the sanctioning body’s mandated split. That gives Golden Boy plenty of incentive to lock down a deal before a rival promoter swoops in to stage Schofield’s first title defense.