Canelo Dodges Turki Alalshikh’s Questions on Crawford, Undisputed Title, and ‘The Big Fight’ Promotion

Turki Alalshikh questioned unified super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez on stage today in his press conference with IBF champ William Scull, wanting him to answer whether he’ll capture the final belt needed for him to become undisputed to have that title available for his meeting with Terence Crawford on September 13th.

(Credit: Queensberry Promotions/ Ed Mulholland)

Dodging Questions

It seemed like Turki wanted Canelo to get an early start on marketing “The Big Fight,” as he calls it, against Crawford, and he wasn’t going to do it. The TRUE big fight is Canelo vs. David Benvidez, not an elderly, non-deserving Crawford, who looked terrible in his debut at 154. You can’t blame Canelo for not wanting to be strung along like a puppet, saying the words Turki wanted him to.

That’s the match-up that Turki really wants for some reason, even though Terence has never fought at 168, would be moving up two divisions, and cutting in line ahead of numerous contenders who have been working hard for their shot.

If Turki is an old school boxing traditionalist, he should have insisted that Crawford move up to 168 and earn the title shot against Canelo like fighters in the past did. What he’s doing is not old school.

Crawford should have to go up to super middleweight and run this little gauntlet to prove himself worthy of a title shot:

– David Benavidez
– Osleys Iglesias
– David Morrell
– Diego Pacheco
– Christian Mbilli

If Crawford beats all five fighters, he will have earned his title shot against Canelo. That’s the old-school method. Aside from that, Crawford doesn’t rate the opportunity to meet the King of the division. How would Crawford feel if he held four titles at 154 and an old guy from the 140-lb division wanted to move up two weight classes to fight him in a one-off to get a retirement payday? He wouldn’t want to do it.

That’s all you can call it. An old guy, Bud, with an inflated resume takes a year off to avoid losing and moves up two weight classes to challenge Canelo for a one-off. This is no different when former UFC champion Francis Ngannou, in his debut in boxing, fought Tyson Fury in Riyadh – just pure circus. This is influencer-level stuff.

Canelo Deflects

Alvarez refused to say during the press conference today for his match against Scull (23-0, 9 KOs) on May 3rd in Riyadh whether

Todd Grisham: “Canelo, everyone knows a potential showdown with Terence Crawford awaits in September. He decided not to have a fight until then, but you said you’re going to fight in May. Why take the risk?”

Canelo Alvarez: “I like to be active. We don’t have a fight in September. We have this fight, and then we will see the September fight. But I’m focused 100% on William Scull.”

Turki Alalshikh: “Hello everyone. You know, I respect the school of boxing from Cuba, but now I am asking as a fan. My question is for Canelo. There’s one item missing from you. On the 3rd of May, will you get it back to be complete on the 12th of September in Vegas in the big fight [Crawford]? Are you completing the items [i.e., collecting the missing IBF 168-lb belt to become undisputed super middleweight champion].

Canelo: “Hey, man. I’m going to look great [Canel chooses not to answer Turki’s leading question to begin an early promotion for the Crawford celebrity fight].”

Turki: “There is one item missing from you know. That belt [Turki points towards his Ring Magazine undisputed title].”

Canelo: “The belt. I got you. Don’t worry.”