Eddie Hearn believes Canelo Alvarez is unlikely to accept a showdown with Terence Crawford.
Alvarez recently defeated Jaime Munguia in a huge all-Mexican showdown to retain his undisputed 168lbs titles, and is now set to face a queue of potential next opponents.
One of those is pound-for-pound superstar Crawford who is set to return at super-welterweight against Israil Madrimov on August 3.
Matchroom Boxing kinpin Hearn, who has previously promoted Alvarez, is of the opinion that the Mexican will not pursue a clash due to the weight difference.
“When I met Saul, he wasn’t crazy on that [Crawford] fight,” Hearn said.
“He just felt that you have got a welterweight coming up to light-middleweight, going up to super-middleweight and that he wouldn’t get any credit for that win.
“Everyone would say ‘you are fighting a 147lber, [you should be winning]’, but Crawford is really, really good and I think Saul likes fighting now.
“As Saul has made it very, very clear – money is pretty much the only motivator for him right now.
“I think that if the money is right, honestly, he will fight anyone.
“I don’t think that Crawford is a guy that he would necessarily be picking.
“I think that he would pick Benavidez over Crawford because he knows he would get the credit for that victory, whereas he might not for fighting a guy that is three or four divisions lower.”
Talk of a clash between Alvarez and Crawford heated up after Saudi boxing chief H.E. Turki Alalshikh declared it would be one of his ‘dream’ fights to stage.
‘Bud’ has set his eyes on a potential meeting with Alvarez, but is expected to gradually increase his weight from 154lbs to 168lbs to put himself in the frame for a shot.
Boxing trainer Andre Rozier believes Crawford should avoid taking the step up, insisting it could end in a damaging blow to his legacy.
“I don’t like it. Canelo hasn’t been rattled by anybody, and he’s been in with some big punchers. I don’t like that fight for Crawford,” Rozier told Fight Hype.
“I like him at 154, and maybe touching ground at 160. But at 168, I don’t like it.
“He’s going to box well because he’s a fantastic athlete and a fantastic boxer, but I don’t want to see TC going into that deep waters like that.
“If it’s about money, it’s a different story, but his legacy is being lamented in a fantastic way, and I’d hate to see it tarnished by trying to do too much.”
Alvarez’s other key option could be a showdown with David Benavidez who currently holds the WBC mandatory challenger status.
Despite reports a $55million offer had been made, Canelo swiftly shut down the claims and insisted it could take up to $200m to see him accept the outing.
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News Summary:
- Canelo Alvarez ‘likely’ to snub Terence Crawford mega-fight for key reason despite targeted date
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