In the immediate aftermath of Terence Crawford’s victory over Canelo Alvarez, attention swiftly turned to whether a rematch might follow.
The defeat was Canelo’s third as a professional and his first since Dmitry Bivol outboxed him at light-heavyweight in May 2022. Despite being the natural super-middleweight, it was Crawford who imposed himself in the pivotal moments of the contest, outmanoeuvring and outscoring the Mexican star to earn a unanimous decision victory.
Speculation about a return bout gained brief momentum when Canelo, who underwent elbow surgery in October, told TV Azteca that he wanted the opportunity to seek revenge in 2026. Any lingering hope of a sequel, however, was extinguished in December when Crawford formally announced his retirement from boxing.
Crawford has since addressed the possibility of a rematch during an interview with popular YouTuber Adin Ross.
When asked whether Canelo’s team had reached out regarding a second fight, Crawford’s response was blunt.
“Never.”
Pressed further on whether he would have granted Canelo a rematch, the 38-year-old was equally unequivocal.
“It’s over with. If there was a rematch clause in the contract then I’d have to honour it, but it’s over with.”
Crawford’s retirement has blown the super-middleweight division wide open, freeing up all four world titles and ushering in a new era at 168lbs. Hamzah Sheeraz, Diego Pacheco and Christian Mbilli now find themselves at the front of a suddenly crowded queue, with the division’s future no longer shaped by its established stars.
For Canelo, however, the landscape has shifted dramatically. Once the undisputed ruler of the weight, he now faces the unfamiliar task of rebuilding, with a potential bout against Osleys Iglesias for the vacant IBF title offering a route back — but also underlining how far the division has moved on since Crawford closed the door on a rematch for good.
