Boxing
Crawford Chooses Canelo Payday Over Risky Ennis Fight
Published
6 months agoon
By
J. HumzaTerence Crawford revealed in an interview that he would rather fight Canelo Alvarez than Jaron “Boots” Ennis because of the impact the fight would have on his bank account and legacy. At least Crawford is straightforward about wanting to fight Canelo for the money he gets.
As the saying goes, “Greed is good,” especially if you don’t have to run the gauntlet at 168 to make money. Terence might not last long if he jumped to the Apex Predators at super middleweight like David Benavidez.
Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) admits that the reason he wants to move up three weight classes to challenge superstar Canelo for his undisputed super middleweight title despite having no experience in the weight class is because of the money and, of course, his legacy of victories.
Many fans believe that Crawford wants to fight Canelo mainly for the money, and the titles are a secondary consideration.
A win-win scenario
It’s a perfect situation for Crawford if His Excellency Turki Alalshikh gives him a fight with Canelo (61-2-2, 39 KOs). Crawford will probably walk away with $20 million, and no one will hold it against him if he gets beaten. He would have a built-in excuse: his age. [37] and no experience at 168 or 160 pounds. This is a win-win for Crawford, as he moves up three divisions and won’t fight anyone before getting a shot at Canelo’s title.
It would be unfair to the 168-pound title contenders for Crawford to pass them, especially guys like David Benavidezbut fighting is business.
“Right now I’m focused on the fight that makes the most sense, and that’s not the Boots fight,” Terence Crawford said in an interview with YouTuber Ariel Helwani canalmaking it clear that he is not interested in a risky fight with undefeated IBF welterweight champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis, but with Canelo Alvarez, who would bring him a huge golden parachute to ensure a cushioned landing in retirement.
“Canelo will add so much more to my legacy and so much more to my bank account. Because when boxing is over, what will we have? I’ll have a legacy that people will talk about for ages. And I’ll have a bank account that will last for ages.”
It would be better if Crawford beat at least one solid contender at 168 pounds to show fans that this fight isn’t just about making money before he retires.
If Turki sets up David Benavidez as a hurdle for Crawford to overcome, fans will love the idea because at least if Terence wins, he would earn the fight with Canelo rather than being handed one on a silver platter based on his record against fighters in the 135, 140, 147 and 154 weight classes.
Crawford is already luxurious, with an estimated net worth of $18 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. That figure will escalate significantly following his fight with WBA junior middleweight champion Israil Madrimov at Turki Alalshikh’s Riyadh Season on Aug. 3 on DAZN and ESPN+ PPV from BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.
Many fans believe that Crawford would have no problem beating Boots Ennis, so there is not much pressure on him to take the fight. However, fans have a problem with Crawford being given a title shot against Canelo without a fight at 168 pounds.
Skip the line?
This is more disturbing because it makes the fight an unsportsmanlike event. After all, Crawford was allowed to bypass all the perilous super middleweight contenders who would likely beat him.
For example, if Crawford fought Benavidez, he would be the underdog. The idea of Crawford fighting Canelo would go down the drain when Terence gets wiped out by Benavidez.
Crawford is too elderly, petite and inactive to beat a fighter like Benavidez and is not being asked to fight him. He will get the fight with Canelo if he beats Madrimov on August 3.
It would be intriguing if His Excellency told Crawford that he had to beat Benavidez if he wanted to fight Canelo, because the fans would see his reaction. Would Crawford go along with the idea or would he refuse and storm out of the room in a fit of rage?
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Boxing
Ryan Rozicki is waiting for Badou Jack’s consent to mandatory cooperation with the WBC
Published
2 days agoon
January 13, 2025The World Boxing Council (WBC) ordered world cruiserweight champion Badou “The Ripper” Jack (20-1-1, 19 KO) to make a mandatory title defense against Ryan “The Bruiser” Rozicki (20-1), number 1 in the WBC ranking – 1, 19 KOs).
If both camps fail to successfully negotiate an agreement, the WBC will organize a tender on February 4, followed by the Jack vs. Rozicki. Rozicki’s promoter, Three Lions Promotions, immediately sent Team Jacek an offer to promote the fight in Canada last week.
“We are waiting for their counteroffer,” explained promoter Dan Otter of Three Lions Promotions. “Boxing has had a huge resurgence in Canada and Ryan is leading the way. He is one of the most electrifying and hardest-hitting fighters in boxing, definitely in the cruiserweight division. He wants the WBC green belt and ultimately the unification of the division. Ryan will fight Jack anywhere for the belt.”
29-year-old Rozicki, born in Sydney (Nova Scotia) and living in Hamilton (Ontario), fought 22 professional fights against 21 different opponents (twice against Yamil Alberto Peralta), stopping 19 of the 20 opponents he defeated. an eye-opening 95-KO percentage.
Jack, 41, was a 2008 Olympian representing his native Sweden. He is a three-division world champion, as well as the WBC super middleweight and World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight heavyweight title holder. Jack has a record of 5-0-2 (2 KO) in world championship fights.
“We respect Jack and I don’t want to sound disrespectful,” Otter added, “but he’s over 40 years vintage and has been relatively inactive for two years (only one fight). He brings a lot of experience and respect to the ring, but he will fight a newborn defender with a lot of power. Jack is going to struggle and honestly, I don’t think he’ll make it past the first few rounds.”
Ryan Rozicki is on a mission to become the first Canadian cruiserweight world champion.
The next move is Badou Jack’s.
Boxing
Floyd Mayweather’s record is not normal, it can’t happen in 70 years
Published
4 days agoon
January 12, 2025Floyd Mayweather’s incredible 50-0 record is not normal and cannot be repeated in sports for another seventy years.
This is the view of Saudi Arabian president Turki Alalshikh, who wants to adopt the UFC model in which fighters lose many fights during their career.
In a speech as he hosted the Ring Magazine Awards after acquiring the long-running boxing publication from Oscar De La Hoya, Alalshikh was unequivocal in his opinion.
“Now losing some fights in boxing must be normal,” he explained. “All fighters want a career similar to Floyd Mayweather – no losses. This may happen once every 50, 60 or 70 years.
“We need it [to be] like currently in the UFC model, where champions lose and win,” added the matchmaker during the Riyad season.
Mayweather rose through the sport in the tardy 1990s to become one of its youngest superstars. Mayweather’s professional success came after winning a bronze medal at the Olympics after losing to Serafim Todorov.
Winning world titles in five weight classes, Mayweather was untouchable. The Grand Rapids native only came close to defeat a few times. He dominated Manny Pacquiao and overtook Canelo Alvarez and Oscar De La Hoya after heated debates, with decisions that should have been made unanimously.
Towards the end of his career, Mayweather chose to face Andre Berto and Conor McGregor, easily winning and ending his boxing career at the age of 50 without ever going out. Calling himself “the greatest of all time,” Mayweather earned first-ballot Hall of Fame honors and is widely considered one of, if not the greatest defensive fighter of all time.
However, Alalshikh says this type of career needs to end so that fans can get the most out of boxing, as is the case with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Boxing needs to become more attractive, and Alalshikh sees the failures of top stars as a way to keep interest at an all-time high.
In this sport, many boxers enjoy undefeated streaks, the most notable of which is Oleksandr Usyk. The Ukrainian Pound for Pound King is 23-0 and has beaten the best he has to offer in his division and cruiserweight classification.
It remains a mystery how Alalshikh plans to make Usyk suffer while he dominates everyone else. By the time his grand plan goes into action, Usyk will be long gone, and Gervonta Davis, Shakur Stevenson and Devin Haney may be more realistic targets.
Boxing
Manny Pacquiao remains the favorite to win the title against Mario Barrios
Published
1 week agoon
January 6, 2025WBN understands that despite alternative options emerging, it is more likely that Manny Pacquiao will face Mario Barrios next.
Bob Santos, coach of WBC welterweight champion Barrios, told World Boxing News that he is currently in contact with Pacquiao’s team. Asked by WBN if he had spoken to Pacquiao or representatives of any other challenger, Santos replied: “Yes, Pacquiao’s promoter, Sean Gibbons.” Pressed on whether Barrios vs Pacquiao might happen next, he added: “It’s challenging to say. We’ll have to see how this plays out.”
WBN contacted Santos after Conor Benn emerged as a potential alternative to Barrios. The British fighter, who recently returned from a suspension following two positive drug tests, is keen to return to competition.
Benn showed favor with the World Boxing Council at the recent WBC Convention, the WBC Evaluation Committee and during an interview with the sanctioning body over the weekend. “The Destroyer” is ranked second in the rankings at 147 pounds, despite less than solid opponents during his time in exile, during which Benn competed twice in the United States while his career in the United Kingdom was in doubt.
As he battled to clear his name and with the British Anti-Doping Authority finding no evidence that Benn had intentionally taken ostarine, the 28-year-old’s career took a pointed nosedive. Despite this, he remains highly rated and at least one step away from fighting for an eliminator or one of the remaining championship titles.
However, Pacquiao remains Barrios’ favorite. Now it’s up to the boxing legend and Hall of Famer who got the first votes to secure his shot. WBN believes a July date – most likely at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas – is the most realistic date for a Nevada swan song.
Pacquiao could extend his record as the oldest welterweight champion by six years if he can secure a huge victory over the 29-year-old world champion. At 46 years antique, such a scenario remains unlikely, but he can never be compared to one of the greatest players of this generation.
Unlike heavier boxers and his training regiment, Pacquiao looks in great shape despite his advanced age. Everything is set for a massive return to the boxing capital of the world, provided Pacquiao and his team can manage his political ambitions, which are expected to run from this month until May. After that time, Pacquiao could find himself in the summer finals and become the all-time champion, regardless of the result.
Barrios is based in the city, where he trained with Santos, and would be the perfect opponent to see out the career of one of the greatest fighters in history.
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