Terence Crawford has openly addressed the challenges facing pay-per-view boxing, acknowledging how digital platforms and piracy have impacted revenue for major fights. During a conversation with Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinee Shannon Sharpe, Crawford was asked whether his fight against Canelo Alvarez could surpass the $600 million record set by Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao in 2015.
“I don’t know,” Crawford said when questioned about breaking the record. He described the current media landscape as dominated by streaming and piracy, making it harder to achieve such high figures. “My kids be talking about, ‘Oh yeah, I’m watching the UFC fights.’ I’m like, ‘I ain’t pay for no UFC fight.’ They watching it on their phones,” Crawford added.
Despite this, Crawford remains optimistic about the prospects of his upcoming fight with Alvarez. “I just think it’s going to do tremendous numbers,” he said. He suggested that even if their bout does not reach previous records, it could still rank among the most lucrative events in modern combat sports due to its broad appeal.
Looking ahead to his undisputed super middleweight title fight at Allegiant Stadium, Crawford explained how he initiated discussions for the matchup. “It was me going to Turki Alalshikh and letting him know that I was serious about fighting Canelo,” Crawford stated on a recent podcast appearance. He noted there had been doubts over whether Alvarez would agree to face him due to concerns about weight classes but pointed out that Alvarez himself previously moved up divisions. “He is not a messy fighter. He is thick, but he is not giant (… )” Crawford explained, indicating careful consideration before making the decision.
Discussing Turki Alalshikh’s impact on boxing promotion, Crawford praised his role in facilitating major fights that fans have requested for years. “He’s changing his sport in a crazy way (… )” Crawford said, referencing high-profile bouts made possible through Alalshikh’s financial backing.
Crawford emphasized Alalshikh’s motivation goes beyond financial returns. “He is fair. But at the same time, he is a fan of the sport (… )” said Crawford, suggesting Alalshikh often prioritizes legacy and global reach over profits.
On Dana White’s involvement as a promoter for this event, Crawford offered additional perspective: “It’s new. This is his first time promoting a boxing event, but Dana is a great promoter (… )” According to Crawford, White’s experience from UFC combined with Alalshikh’s vision could help expand both boxing and mixed martial arts audiences.
When questioned about rumors of Floyd Mayweather advising him ahead of this high-profile match-up against Alvarez—a boxer Mayweather defeated in 2013—Crawford dismissed speculation outright: “Not at all. Not at all,” he replied during an interview with Fight Hype.
As he prepares for what may be a defining moment in his career, Crawford has expressed determination to make history by potentially becoming the first fighter in modern times to secure undisputed status across three weight divisions under current sanctioning rules.
