Turki Alalshikh is sponsoring the UFC 306 occasion on September 14th on the Sphere in Las Vegas, which will likely be held on the identical night time as Canelo Alvarez’s combat in opposition to Edgar Berlanga on the T-Cell Area.
Canelo gained’t be completely happy to listen to Turki plans to sponsor the UFC 306 occasion, which might stymie his scheduled occasion on the identical night time.
Turki’s Daring Prediction: “We Will Eat Him”
Turki informed ESPN that his sponsored UFC 306 occasion on September 14th will “eat” Canelo’s combat card on the identical night time in opposition to Berlanga.
It’s unclear why Turki is taking a combative stance with Canelo for the September 14th date, particularly when he’s somebody that he needs for an occasion subsequent 12 months. If Canelo had carried out one thing to Turki, I may have understood his need to outcompete his occasion on September 14th.
Did Canelo do one thing to set Turki off? He’s serving to out Turki’s good pal, promoter Eddie Hearn, by combating his Matchroom fighter, Edgar Berlanga.
Turki says he nonetheless needs to make a combat between Canelo and Terence Crawford and provides Alvarez a “honest worth.” For those who’re Canelo, you’re most likely considering, ‘$100 million is a good worth for a combat I stand to achieve nothing from.’ Canelo could be serving to out Turki’s good pal, Crawford, however he doesn’t owe him something.
Crawford may assist Canelo by at the least defending him from the backlash he’ll obtain by proving himself at 168 in opposition to David Benavidez.
Alalshikh says that if Canelo asks for an excessive amount of cash, he’ll get Crawford any fighter he needs. Nonetheless, Crawford solely needs Canelo. That’s it. He doesn’t need to combat Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, and there’s nobody standard in any of the opposite weight courses that Crawford has any curiosity in dealing with earlier than hanging up his gloves. He solely needs that Canelo combat, which can be out of his attain.
Crawford can already get any fighter he needs, however he’s fixated on Canelo, the elusive one which solely Turki has an opportunity of getting. The fact is Turki’s getting off on the flawed foot with Canelo if he needs him to conform to combat Crawford. You may argue that Crawford is spoiled rotten and doesn’t need to hand over on getting the Canelo match, despite the fact that he doesn’t deserve it.
Crawford isn’t any extra deserving of a Canelo combat than Edgar Berlanga. No less than with him, he fights at 168 and is Canelo’s WBA necessary. Crawford hasn’t even fought at 154 but, and he would possibly even lose that match subsequent Saturday night time in opposition to Israil Madrimov on August third.
No matter candy deal that Turki presents Canelo to combat Crawford, it gained’t be nearly as good if you issue within the cash he’s shedding resulting from his Berlanga occasion being crippled by the UFC 306 card.
Crawford Solely Desires Canelo
There is no such thing as a one else that Crawford needs to combat, however Canelo, and it’s comprehensible why. It’s the mixture of cash and legacy for Crawford. He will get an enormous payday and the prospect to cement his legacy. Canelo will get nothing however cash, which he already has sufficient of. In response to Superstar Web Price, Canelo’s fortune is estimated at $250 million.
I don’t know what His Excellency Turki plans to supply Canelo for a combat in opposition to Crawford, however I’d be keen to wager that it’s nowhere near that.
“I’ll give Canelo what I believe is a honest worth. If he accepts it, he offers straight with me to complete the deal,” mentioned Turki Alalshikh to Mike Coppinger on X about his need to make a combat between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford.
“I don’t need anybody within the center. “We’ll eat him, mentioned Turki about his UFC 306 occasion getting the higher of Canelo’s on September 14th.
“I assured Crawford an enormous combat. I need Canelo for Crawford, and Crawford needs Canelo,” Turki continued. “But when Canelo is loopy [asking for too much money], I’ll nonetheless assure Crawford any combat he needs.”
It might be attention-grabbing to know what sort of cash Turki feels could be a “honest worth” for Canelo as a result of he’s already carried out fairly properly in previous fights. Given Canelo stands to achieve nothing from the combat and gained’t obtain any credit score for beating Crawford, it must be an unlimited payday for it to be worthwhile.
No matter worth Canelo has for a match in opposition to David Benavidez, it will make sense for him to need related dough for a combat in opposition to Crawford, and there’s no acquire from that match. Canelo was on document for wanting $200 million smackers for a combat in opposition to Benavidez. Nicely, that’s a very good worth for a combat in opposition to Crawford.
Canelo could be higher off combating Benavidez as a result of he would obtain credit score for profitable, and followers wouldn’t trash him if he misplaced or struggled to win.
Choices for Crawford if Canelo Costs himself out
Jaron ‘Boot’ Ennis
David Benavidez
David Morrell
If Crawford feels courageous sufficient to combat Canelo, he shouldn’t have any qualms about dealing with David Benavidez or David Morrell. They’re not previous like Canelo or tremendous standard, however Crawford would acquire plenty of consideration by combating one in all them. If he loses to them, he could have a built-in excuse. He may blame it on their measurement, youth, and energy.
Followers could be desperate to see Crawford leap within the ring with Artur Beterbiev or Dmitry Bivol, however he gained’t try this. To get the large cash and get followers , Crawford has received to make the last word sacrifice by combating somebody that followers really feel he has no probability of beating.
Combating Beterbiev or Bivol would put Crawford in a scenario the place he could be an amazing underdog, however the publicity he would obtain could be huge.
Crawford’s extra seemingly choice if he can’t get the Canelo combat is to combat WBC junior middleweight champion, Sebastian Fundora. Turki may simply arrange that match as a substitute. Nonetheless, the general public wouldn’t be tremendous excited to see that combat.
Fundora was knocked out final 12 months by Brian Mendoza, and a few consider the one purpose he defeated Tim Tszyu final March was the horrible reduce he obtained through the contest.
Crawford mentioned he wished to combat Fundora when he selected to maneuver as much as 154, however he determined to face Errol Spence as an alternative. Crawford then went along with his second choice, Israil Madrimov.
