Turki Alalshikh is sponsoring the UFC 306 occasion on September 14th on the Sphere in Las Vegas, which can be held on the identical evening as Canelo Alvarez’s combat towards Edgar Berlanga on the T-Cellular Enviornment.
Canelo gained’t be completely satisfied to listen to Turki plans to sponsor the UFC 306 occasion, which might stymie his scheduled occasion on the identical evening.
Turki’s Daring Prediction: “We Will Eat Him”
Turki instructed ESPN that his sponsored UFC 306 occasion on September 14th will “eat” Canelo’s combat card on the identical evening towards 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 yr. If Canelo had performed 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 good friend, 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 “truthful value.” When you’re Canelo, you’re in all probability pondering, ‘$100 million is a good value for a combat I stand to realize nothing from.’ Canelo can be serving to out Turki’s good good friend, Crawford, however he doesn’t owe him something.
Crawford may assist Canelo by no less than giving him a bit cowl from the backlash he’ll obtain by proving himself at 168 towards David Benavidez.
Alalshikh says that if Canelo asks for an excessive amount of cash, he’ll get Crawford any fighter he wishes. Nevertheless, Crawford solely needs Canelo. That’s it. He doesn’t need to combat Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, and there’s nobody widespread in any of the opposite weight lessons that Crawford has any curiosity in going through earlier than hanging up his gloves.
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 truth is Turki’s getting off on the mistaken foot with Canelo if he needs him to comply with combat Crawford.
No matter candy deal that Turki gives Canelo to combat Crawford, it gained’t be pretty much as good if you issue within the cash he’s dropping because of 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 mix of cash and legacy for Crawford. He will get an enormous payday and the prospect to cement his legacy.
“I’ll give Canelo what I feel is a truthful value. If he accepts it, he offers immediately 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 are going to 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 will be fascinating to know what sort of cash Turki feels can be a “truthful value” for Canelo as a result of he’s already performed fairly properly in previous fights. Given Canelo stands to realize 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 value that Canelo has for a match towards David Benavidez, it might make sense for him to need comparable dough for a combat towards Crawford there’s no achieve from that match.
The reality is, Canelo can be higher off combating Benavidez as a result of he would obtain credit score for successful, and followers wouldn’t trash him if he misplaced.
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 going through David Benavidez or David Morrell. They’re outdated like Canelo or tremendous widespread, however Crawford would achieve a lot consideration by combating both. If he loses to them, he may have a built-in excuse. He may blame it on their dimension, youth, and energy.
Followers can be desperate to see Crawford leap within the ring with Artur Beterbiev or Dmitry Bivol, however he’s not going to do this. If Crawford can’t get the Canelo combat, he’ll select a non-risky opponent he’s assured of beating, like Sebastian Fundora.
If Crawford nonetheless needs a combat towards Fundora, Turki may simply arrange that match in its place possibility. Nevertheless, the general public wouldn’t be tremendous excited to see that combat.
Fundora was knocked out final yr by Brian Mendoza, and a few consider the one purpose he defeated Tim Tszyu final March was the horrible reduce he acquired through the contest. If Turki is prepared to pay Crawford large cash to combat Fundora, he’ll possible take that one relatively than face a dangerous man like Boots Ennis, Benavidez, or Morrell.
Crawford mentioned he wished to combat Fundora when he moved as much as 154, however he opted to face Errol Spence as a substitute. Crawford then went together with his second possibility, Israil Madrimov.
Assuming Canelo rejects Turkis’s “truthful deal” for a combat towards Crawford, the Nebraska native should combat dangerous towards one of many killers if he needs to earn the mega-money.
If Canelo is salty about his Berlanga occasion being sabotaged because of competitors from the UFC 306 on September 14th, why would he need to assist Turki out with a combat towards Crawford? Canelo has already mentioned he’s not fascinated with combating Crawford, and he’s not prone to change his thoughts until he’s provided insane cash.
Turki might want to supply Canelo some huge cash if he needs him to comply with combat Crawford as a result of it’s horrible for Canelo. Crawford will observe the Floyd Mayweather Jr. blueprint by jabbing, shifting, and holding all evening.
He’ll stifle Canelo’s offense and make it ugly to look at. Crawford will use a variation of Mayweather and Erislandy Lara. Canelo can be making an attempt to win rounds primarily based on his energy pictures, however Crawford will make it troublesome by jabbing and shifting.
It’ll be boring to look at, and the judges should resolve whether or not to offer Crawford the rounds primarily based on his jabbing or give attention to Canelo’s cleaner touchdown pictures. Both method, it’ll be controversial, and there can be loads of dangerous blood.
Canelo can be higher off specializing in combating guys from the 168-lb division relatively than serving to out Crawford. If he needs the combat with Canelo, he ought to transfer up and earn the combat the old school method.
Crawford is the one one who good points something from combating Canelo. It’s a one-way avenue, serving to Crawford as a result of Canelo’s legacy is ruined if he wins. However even when Crawford is aggressive, it hurts Canelo’s legacy.
