Canelo Alvarez takes aim at Terence Crawford and Turki Alalshikh at the press conference for the September 13 fight!
Boxing politics get messy when big money meets even bigger egos. The promoters don’t usually pick sides publicly, but Saudi Arabia’s Turki Alalshikh has thrown that playbook out the window. The man funding some of boxing’s biggest fights has made his preference crystal clear in the upcoming Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford superfight. His open support for Crawford hasn’t gone unnoticed by the Mexican superstar, who never backs down from a challenge inside or outside the ring.
The relationship between Canelo and Alalshikh has been rocky from the start, with negotiations falling apart multiple times over the past year. Money talks in boxing, but respect matters just as much to fighters like Canelo Alvarez who’ve earned their stripes the hard way. The stage was set for some verbal fireworks, and Alvarez didn’t disappoint when he got his chance to respond.
The media day in Saudi Arabia turned into must see television when Alvarez and Crawford faced off for the first time. The Mexican revealed that he knows Turki Alalshikh was in Terence Crawford’s corner for their boxing matchup, and he was going to be upset after he beats him on September 13th. The Mexican champion didn’t mince words when addressing the obvious favoritism coming from the man writing the checks.
“I know Turki [Alalshikh] is in your corner. But look, he’s gonna be so mad that day. Believe me.”
Alalshikh was present during the press conference. His ties with Crawford are no secret. Alalshikh has called him his friend multiple times, and of course he would like his friend to win. But the mighty Canelo Alvarez stands opposite him.
The Mexican superstar has never been one to be intimidated by outside pressure or politics. He’s fought in hostile territory before and thrived under the spotlight. Having someone openly root against him just adds fuel to his fire. Canelo’s track record speaks for itself. The comment revealed Canelo’s understanding of the business side of boxing. He knows that Alalshikh’s investment in Crawford goes beyond just wanting to see a good fight.
Crawford, for his part, has embraced the support from Alalshikh and the Saudi backing. The American fighter has been chasing mega fights for years, and this represents his best chance at legacy-defining victory. Boxing fans have been treated to some legendary trash talk over the years, but this situation feels different because real money and real power are at stake!
(Image Credit: Sarah Stier – Imagn Images)
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