Sep 17, 2022; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Canelo Alvarez (red trunks) and Gennadiy Golovkin (white trunks) box during a super middleweight championship bout at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

mma

Tensions Rise Between Canelo Alvarez And Terence Crawford As Face-Off Gets Heated

Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford get into a shoving match at the press conference for their upcoming Septermber 13 fight!

The art of getting under your opponent’s skin in boxing often starts months before the first bell rings. It’s a mental chess match where every word, every gesture, and every confrontation can shift the momentum.The sport’s most memorable moments often happen outside the ring first. Today’s boxing scene continues this tradition, but with social media and 24/7 coverage, every heated exchange gets magnified.

When two boxing champions with massive egos collide, sparks fly before they even step through the ropes. That’s exactly what happened when Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Terence Crawford came face-to-face recently, creating a moment that had everyone talking.

Canelo Alvarez And Terence Crawford Engage In A Shoving Match

The promotional tour for their September 13th showdown took a turn when Crawford decided to get up close with the Mexican superstar. What started as typical pre-fight banter quickly escalated when Crawford stepped directly into Canelo’s chest. He apparently thought he could intimidate the four-belt champion. Canelo wasn’t having any of it and responded with a hard shove that sent Crawford stumbling back.

Canelo pushes Crawford during the face-off 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/tznhWVhENk
— boxingstoked (@boxingstoked) June 22, 2025

Dana White, who’s seen his share of heated confrontations in the UFC world, had to jump in breaking it up. The whole scene played out in front of cameras, with Crawford laughing and grinning afterward while Canelo had to be held back by several people. It was clear that both fighters wanted to settle things right then and there! Crawford’s cocky smile suggested he thinks he’s already gotten into Alvarez’s head, while the Mexican champion’s reaction showed he’s not going to back down from anyone.

This fight carries more weight than just Canelo Alvarez’s WBC, WBO, WBA, and IBF super middleweight titles. For Canelo, it’s about silencing critics who have been questioning his recent performances and opponent selections. He hasn’t scored a knockout since stopping Caleb Plant back in November 2021, leading some to wonder if he’s lost that devastating power.

Crawford, meanwhile, enters with a perfect 41-0 record and 31 knockouts, including 11 in his last 12 fights. He has already unified belts in two weight classes. He wants to make history by becoming the first fighter to unify titles in three different divisions. Canelo confidently declared that Crawford won’t beat him. Crawford promised those belts are “coming home” with him. With that much on the line, it’s no wonder they couldn’t keep their hands to themselves during a simple press conference!

(Image Credit:Joe Camporeale – Imagn Images)

Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford

Dana White

Zaid Quraishi

mma

I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!