BOXING paymaster Turki Alalshikh has declared that a new venue, and perhaps even broadcaster, for Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford will soon be revealed.
The pair’s undisputed super-middleweight dustup was originally supposed to be staged at the Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, on September 12.
So instead of targeting the more traditional Saturday night slot, their blockbuster clash was set to accommodate a major College Football game by taking place on a Friday.
But now, Alalshikh has confirmed that arguably the biggest showdown of this year will, in fact, materialise on September 13, competing directly with one of America’s leading sports.
The Saudi Arabia government official has also told The Ring, an outlet he now owns, that five venues across Sin City, Los Angeles and New York are all being considered.
Not only that, but while streaming juggernaut Netflix had been explored as a possible broadcaster for Canelo-Crawford, it would appear that event organisers are now potentially searching for a new platform.
Alalshikh wrote on X yesterday: “I will announce at the right time when and where the big fight [between] Canello [Canelo] and Crawford [will take place,] and [on] which platform!”
Either way, those who have hastily booked their flights and hotels must now make a series of phone calls, with yesterday’s developments representing just another example of boxing’s unpredictability.
One thing that should remain the same, however, is that four-division world champion Crawford, 41-0 (31 KOs), will move up two weight classes to take on Canelo, 63-2-2 (39 KOs).
‘Bud’ dethroned WBA world super-welterweight champion Israil Madrimov last August, securing a unanimous decision victory in his first outing at 154lbs.
Canelo, meanwhile, returned to action earlier this month and, in truth, produced a largely pedestrian display to reclaim his undisputed crown against William Scull.
