Who could Terence Crawford face next if he doesn’t agree to an immediate rematch with Canelo Alvarez?
‘Bud’ became a three-division undisputed champion by dethroning Canelo with a unanimous decision victory this past September.
As a result, he has cemented his greatness in the sport, especially given the tremendous size disadvantage he was grappled with in his last assignment.
Despite being a betting underdog, ‘Bud’s dominant performance left most fans satisfied with the conclusion of the outcome and very few calling for a second fight. With that in mind, there are at least three alternative fights that would further enhance Crawford’s legacy…
Janibek Alimkhanuly
The most intriguing matchup for Crawford at this stage in his career is against unified world middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly.
Widely considered the top dog at 160lbs, Alimkhanuly brings a dynamic, yet no less ferocious style to the ring, always looking to break his opponents down with a typically methodical approach.
The unbeaten Kazakh was gearing up to face WBA champion Erislandy Lara on December 6, but tested positive for a banned substance in the days leading up to the bout.
He has maintained his innocence, and if he is able to clear his name, then a bout against Crawford would certainly still be an interesting one. If not, it could now pave the way for Lara to get the shot at Crawford instead.
Sebastian Fundora
Crawford has, of course, already claimed world honours at 154lbs – outpointing Israil Madrimov last year – but a clash with Sebastian Fundora would nonetheless make for a compelling contest.
With ‘Bud’ giving up nearly a foot in height, this would certainly be a tall order – even for someone of Crawford’s calibre – and would offer the elite technician a vastly different test to anything he has previously encountered.
Fundora, it seems, is gearing up to defend his WBC world title against Keith Thurman in the new year.
But then, perhaps midway through 2026, a potential move back down to super-welterweight could see Crawford attempt to topple the ‘Towering Inferno’.
Vergil Ortiz Jr
There are many who believe that Vergil Ortiz Jr is the current flagship fighter at 154lbs, even if reigning champions Fundora and Bakhram Murtazaliev would likely insist otherwise.
The 27-year-old reminded us of his vicious power earlier this month, producing a ruthless display to halt Erickson Lubin in two rounds.
His credibility as a truly heavy-handed operator could therefore provide Crawford with a high-risk challenge, perhaps even establishing him as the biggest puncher that ‘Bud’ has ever shared a ring with.
Crawford, of course, would be considered a sizable favourite against the unbeaten contender. But even so, Ortiz could nonetheless pose a genuine threat to the Nebraskan’s unblemished record.
