Boxing promoter legend Bob Arum has delivered a crushing verdict on the potential super-fight between Mexican icon Canelo Alvarez and American pound-for-pound king Terence Crawford, declaring the bout effectively dead in the water.
The 92-year-old Top Rank chairman, who previously worked with Alvarez, poured cold water on the highly anticipated clash, suggesting the financial and logistical hurdles are simply too great to overcome.
"The Money Doesn't Make Sense" - Arum's Frank Assessment
In a brutally honest assessment, Arum explained that the sheer cost of securing Alvarez, boxing's biggest star, makes a fight against Crawford commercially unviable. "The problem is that to pay Canelo, who's a wonderful guy, what he requires would necessitate a pay-per-view price that is just not realistic", Arum stated.
He elaborated that the asking price would force promoters to set PPV rates at a staggering $90 or even $100 in the current market, a figure he believes fans would be unwilling to stomach for this particular matchup.
Weight Division Disparity Kills The Dream Fight
Another monumental obstacle is the significant weight gap between the two fighters. Canelo reigns as the undisputed super-middleweight champion (168lbs), while Crawford holds the welterweight crown (147lbs) and has only recently moved up to junior middleweight (154lbs).
Arum highlighted this chasm, noting that Crawford, despite his legendary status, would be jumping three entire weight classes to face a naturally bigger and powerful champion in Alvarez. This physical disadvantage appears to be a key factor in the financial calculations, making the high-risk, low-reward scenario a non-starter for promoters.
What's Next for Boxing's Biggest Stars?
With the Crawford super-fight off the table, the focus shifts to the future of both champions. Canelo Alvarez is expected to return to the ring in May for the traditional Cinco de Mayo weekend, with a potential clash against undefeated Mexican contender Jaime Munguia being heavily rumoured.
For Terence Crawford, the path is less certain. Having cleaned out the welterweight division, his quest for legacy-defining fights continues. This latest news from Arum forces him to look elsewhere, potentially at other champions within closer weight ranges, to secure the massive payday and historic challenge he seeks.
The boxing world is left to wonder what could have been, as one of the most intriguing cross-division super-fights in recent memory appears to have collapsed before negotiations ever truly began.
