RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – MAY 03: Terence Crawford, Turki Al-Sheikh and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (L-R) … More
On Saturday, May 3, Canelo Alvarez reunified the super middleweight titles with a decision win over William Scull in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. While Alvarez basked in that victory, Turki Al-Sheikh announced Alvarez’s next opponent. That man is undisputed welterweight champion Terence Crawford. We look at the opening betting odds for that contest, which is officially scheduled for Friday, September 12, in Las Vegas.
Canelo Alvarez Vs. Terence Crawford Opening Betting Odds
According to BetOnline, Alvarez opened as the -150 betting favorite over Crawford, who came in as the +120 betting underdog. Those odds have already shifted slightly for the September bout, which will be contested at 168 pounds. Today, Alvarez is listed at -170, while Crawford is +140.
Mexico’s Canelo Alvarez (C) celebrates after winning his super middleweight boxing match against … More
Canelo Alvarez Vs. Terence Crawford
Fans watching the Alvarez vs. Scull fight had to suspect the plan was to book Alvarez vs. Crawford as the American boxer was in attendance in Riyadh on Saturday, and when he made his way through the ropes after Alvarez’s hand was raised with scores of 119-109, 116-112 and 115-113, the announcement was a foregone conclusion.
The 37-year-old Crawford, 41-0 (31 KOs), last fought in August, defeating Israil Madrimov to win the WBA light middleweight title and vacant WBO interim light middleweight belt. Prior to that fight, Crawford became the undisputed welterweight champion with a ninth-round TKO win over Errol Spence Jr in 2023. The win over Madrimov was Crawford’s first fight over 147 pounds (154). He will be stepping up to 168 pounds to face Alvarez in Vegas.
Crawford was also the undisputed light welterweight champion when he knocked out Julius Indongo in 2017.
The 34-year-old Alvarez (63-2-2 with 39 KOs) has been competing mostly at super middleweight since 2020. The win over Scull moved his 168-pound record to 11-0.
After his win over Scull, Alvarez said he expects a much more spirited affair when he faces Crawford in September.
“I don’t like to fight those kinds of guys,” Alvarez said. “They came to just survive to the final round. That’s why I don’t like to fight them. It won’t be that kind of fight [against Crawford] I hate that kind of fight. He moved even more than we thought. But it’s OK. We won. We’re here.”
As for the weight difference between the two fighters, Crawford doesn’t seem fazed by that in the least.
“That’s why we fight the fight,” Crawford told Fight Hub TV. “So September 12, we all gonna see if the weight gonna make a difference or not.”
As for the opportunity to face Alvarez, Crawford said, “Canelo is the face of boxing. He’s the best fighter for Terence Crawford out there. He’s the biggest fight for Terence Crawford out there. So, that’s why Terence Crawford wants to take the opportunity to share the ring with another great.”
As for where a win over Alvarez would put him, Crawford said with a smile, “At the top, baby. Come on now.”
We will have more on the upcoming Alvarez vs. Crawford bout, including the full fight card, picks, predictions and more as fight night approaches.