Canelo vs. Crawford: Record-Breaking PPV or Flop?

Promoter Richard Schaefer believes the Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford fight will “break records” in pay-per-view, live gate, and global audience. He sees it smashing the 4.6 million PPV record set by Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao in 2015.

Canelo-Crawford Buzz Missing

Interest in the Canelo-Crawford fight is lagging far behind that of the Mayweather-Pacquiao event a decade ago. That fight created huge interest many months before it took place. What’s holding back the buzz is that fans view Canelo as washed up at 35.

He’s hurt his popularity by avoiding David Benavidez and choosing lesser fights against William Scull, Edgar Berlanga, and Jaime Munguia. The boxing public wasn’t demanding that Alvarez fight those three fighters. They wanted Benavidez, and he gave them chopped liver quality opponents instead.

Crawford lacks popularity due to his weak career resume, with only a washed-up Errol Spence and 154-lb champion Israil Madrimov as his only notable opponents he’d faced in 17 years. Terence could have helped boost fan interest in the Canelo fight if he showed bravery, moved up to 168, and took on Benavidez and David Morrell.

Crawford chose to sit inactive and wait for his payday against the Mexican star instead. He played it safe, waiting for his money fight against Alvarez. That’s going to hurt the promotion of the event. Some fans compare Crawford to Sugar Ray Leonard, who would have never sat and waited for a payday. He’d have got off his backside and kept busy.

“It’ll be an all-time record-breaker, I believe. I think this is going to be and has the potential to be the biggest fight we have ever seen from a live gate point of view, from a pay-per-view point of view, from a global audience point of view,” said promoter Richard Schaefer to BoxNation, talking about the Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford fight on September 13th.

Breaking All Boxing Records?

The way Schaefer is talking, you’ve got to wonder if he’s getting some of the action in the Canelo-Crawford fight. Even with the tons of money being poured into the event’s marketing by Turki Alalshikh, it might not bring in much more than 1 million buys, if that. He’s a fan of Crawford, but the fans in the U.S are more interested in entertaining fighters like Benavidez.

Crawford’s fights are more like a chess player with his fighting style. That’s not the style that the U.S public likes watching. Crawford is an acquired taste for the fans who like watching hit-and-run specialists. His style is similar to Devin Haney’s and Shakur Stevenson’s.

“From a sponsorship point of view, I think it will break records in any and all categories. It is by far the most anticipated fight. Two top-five pound-for-pound fighters in their prime going at it. I mean, it just gives me the chills thinking about it. Get the popcorn. You don’t want to miss that one,” said Schaefer about Canelo-Crawford.