Hearn: “Canelo vs. Crawford only works for me in America!”

The talk of the town is this possible dust-up between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford, after the pair had a meeting with His Excellency Turki Alalshikha in London. Now, on paper, this fight is the stuff of dreams – two legends, plenty of belts between them and the kind of fight that makes fans weak in the knees. But here’s the trick: where will it happen?

Saudi Arabia is trying to crown itself the “Fighting Capital of the World”, like it’s the new Vegas or something. But let’s be real, throwing money at a sport doesn’t mean you’re getting its soul. Riyadh may have gilded everything, but where is the atmosphere? Passion? Die-hard fans shouting from the cheap seats? Eddie Hearn doesn’t buy into that idea either. He said DAZN News“Canelo vs. Crawford only works for me in America. I’m not sure Canelo-Crawford is happening in Saudi Arabia, to be honest, or at all.

And honestly, he’s right. Fights like this aren’t just about two guys punching each other – they’re about legacy. It’s a roaring crowd at Madison Square Garden or T-Mobile Arena. You won’t get the same vibe with VIPs sipping cocktails in Riyadh, pretending to know who’s in the ring.

Now let’s talk about the fighters. Crawford? Man is a machine. He became the world champion in four categories in 2024 after dismantling Israil Madrimov. He is at the peak of his powers. And then there’s Canelo, who’s been doing well with wins over Jaime Mungia and Edgar Berlango. But as Hearn bluntly stated, “I don’t see many options for Canelo right now. Translation? This fight could be massive, but it’s also the last roll of the dice for both of them.

If this fight happens – and that’s still a big if – it has to be somewhere that understands boxing. Somewhere with history, with real fans, not just people for Instagram photos. Vegas, MSG, Wembley or even Tottenham – take your pick. Anywhere but a soulless desert PR exercise.

So, let’s keep our fingers crossed that this fight comes true and gets the stage it deserves. Because boxing is about more than money – it’s about the noise of the crowd, history in the air and two legends giving it everything they’ve got. And no amount of Saudi money can buy that.

‼ Turki Alalshikh meets Terence Crawford, just one day after meeting Canelo…

Alalshikh exclusively told The Ring: “The ring is the bible of boxing and we’re close to seeing white smoke on the horizon… 2025 is going to be a crazy year for boxing and I mean it.” pic.twitter.com/IusEV7pvdN

— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) January 13, 2025