Turki Alalshikh Teases Terence Crawford Return in 2027

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By suggesting a 2027 return under the guise of Crawford needing to spend his career earnings, Alalshikh is using his typical mix of humor and public pressure to keep the P4P star tethered to the sport’s biggest possible matchups.

Turki has made no secret of his desire to see Crawford face the Mexican superstar in a rematch. While Crawford has appeared content with his legacy, the lure of another massive payday in 2027 fits the timeline for a one-off spectacle rather than a return to the divisional grind to face the younger fighters at 168.

The “2027” teaser is clearly built on the assumption that Canelo remains a viable option. The announcement of Canelo vs. Mbilli for September in Riyadh completely changes things.

If Canelo loses to WBC super middleweight champion Mbilli, Turki’s plan of a Crawford rematch becomes obsolete.

Alalshikh is betting on Canelo’s durability to overcome the youth and high work rate of Mbilli. It would rely on old man strength outlasting a hungry, prime Mbilli. If that bet fails this September, those Tokyo photos might be the last time we see Crawford and Alalshikh signaling toward a Canelo mega-fight.

If Canelo is thinking like a businessman, which he usually is, skipping Mbilli makes all the sense in the world. Why risk a 2027 $100M+ payday against Crawford by getting roughed up or potentially stopped by a guy with a fraction of the name value?

Alvarez can present the Crawford rematch as the only fight fans want to see. He can argue that he’s already conquered the 168-lb division and that the WBC belt Mbilli holds is just plastic compared to the P4P stakes of the Bud rematch.