The boxing world is buzzing with anticipation over a potential rematch between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford. Following Crawford's impressive victory over Canelo on September 13, rumors of a rematch in 2026 have surfaced, igniting discussions and debates among fans and experts alike.
The First Fight: A Recap
In their first matchup, Terence Crawford delivered an impressive performance, defeating Canelo Alvarez by unanimous decision. The judges scored the fight 116-112, 115-113, and 115-113, crowning Crawford the undisputed super middleweight champion. With this victory, Crawford became the first male boxer in history to become the undisputed champion in three different weight classes. He moved up from 154 pounds to 168 pounds to secure the win against Canelo.
Rematch Rumors and Negotiations
Two months after Terence Crawford handed Canelo Alvarez the third loss of his career, rumors of a potential rematch in 2026 have surfaced, according to the Mexican outlet TV Azteca. TV Azteca reports that Canelo has initiated discussions for a potential rematch, with negotiations currently in progress, although specific details have not been disclosed. Crawford has not yet commented on or confirmed the rematch discussions.
According to reports from Salvador Rodriguez of ESPN, clarity regarding Saul Alvarez's immediate future would come soon.
For me yes, it's option A (Crawford). However, I've just been told there's an interesting option B. I'm working on it with my sources, there's another option that may come up very soon.
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Canelo's Condition and Future Plans
Canelo Alvarez is continuing his recovery from elbow surgery after his unanimous decision loss to Terence Crawford last September. Canelo is set to undergo elbow surgery, pushing his possible return to the ring back to mid-2026. While he recovers, the boxing world is waiting to see what the next step in his career will be after he lost his belts in the super middleweight division.
Saul Alvarez considers two options for 2026.
Contractual Obligations
Canelo is currently signed to a four-fight deal with Turki Alalshikh, but his next opponent has not been announced.
Journalist Dan Rafael has reported that no such clause was.
Rafael claimed that Canelo doesn't have a rematch clause against Crawford. While he has two fights left in the contract with Turki Alalshikh, an automatic rematch is not a given, unless his excellency explicitly wants that.
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"What I am told by Canelo’s people is that absolutely there is no rematch clause. He does have two more fights on a contract with Turki. Now, if Turki said, ‘I wanna do the rematch,’ I guess, they could make the rematch, but there’s nothing, you know, that he can invoke and say, ‘I’m getting an automatic rematch with Terence Crawford.’"
Canelo, though, remains the face of boxing despite his defeat. Hence, a Crawford rematch won't be denied if the Mexican wants it next.
Crawford's Perspective
Crawford has yet to comment or confirm the rematch talks.
Crawford has opened a lot of doors for a next mega fight with his win against Canelo. David Benavidez, Dmitry Bivol, Janibek Alimkhanuly, Jaron 'Boots' Ennis, and more have emerged as options for 'Bud' Crawford.
Fighting Canelo also secures the biggest payday of a fighter's career. It's hard to imagine Crawford passing up the chance to have a rematch, especially after winning the first fight.
Read also: Alvarez vs. Berlanga: Fight Analysis
“We’ll KNOCKOUT Canelo Alvarez in the REMATCH” — Terence Crawford Trainer Bernie The Boxer
Expert Opinions and Predictions
Before their first fight, numerous boxing experts shared their opinions and predictions. Here’s a compilation of what some notable figures had to say:
- Jim Lampley: "Two of the greatest and most intelligent people in the sport... It's a fantastic matchup, and I truly can't wait to see it... If you ask me to pick a favorite in that fight, there's no logic to picking somebody other than Canelo.”
- Al Bernstein: "This is one of those fights where if somebody just said to me, 'Okay, you just have to place a straight bet,' I would say, 'I don't know if I want to spend my money doing that.' I could see either man winning this. I lean slightly to Canelo because of the size and the undertaking for Crawford, but can't say I do it with a lot of conviction for a variety of reasons.”
- Max Kellerman: "What Canelo has is size, and as a result, physical strength and punching power. Canelo also has a great chin, skilled and with a larger skeleton than Crawford; no matter what they weigh, Canelo is the bigger guy."
- Roy Jones Jr.: “If Canelo fights the absolute correct fight that he can, the only correct fight that he can fight, he does have a chance... If he doesn't, Crawford has six ways he can win it, and my money will go with a man who has six ways to win it over the man who has one way of winning.”
- Vergil Ortiz: "I don't say this out of bias toward Canelo but logically, a great bigger fighter beats a great smaller fighter... I think Canelo is going to win, but a loss is not going to tarnish Crawford's career."
- Dmitry Bivol: "Crawford is one of my favorite boxers. He’s able to win this fight, but there is a lot of small things, which we don't know how he will deal with. He needs to get used to the power and pressure for 168 because it's a big difference."
- Carl Frampton: “I did say that Crawford beats Canelo... I believe he can beat Canelo. I genuinely do think he's a very special fighter... I fancy Crawford, genuinely think he can win on points."
- Danny Garcia: “I think it's gonna be a good fight, tactical fight. I can see Canelo winning a unanimous decision just because of the weight difference - that's the biggest factor in this fight.”
- Shawn Porter: “I think that this is a fight that both guys have the ability to win... I think this is a 50-50 fight that Terence will pull it off.”
- Andy Lee: “What a fight. It’s very hard to pick a winner... When you see how skillful both are, the tricks they have and how they fight, it should be up there with the best fights we can remember.”
- Teddy Atlas: "At the end of the day, I like Crawford. Not just the physical attributes but the intangibles, mental traits, where he's got great timing, he's ice water in there."
- Oscar De La Hoya: "Crawford is coming up two weight classes, and he's coming off a one-year layoff, so that's a huge advantage for Canelo... If he doesn't do that, then Crawford is going to box his ears off."
- Eddie Hearn: “You’re talking about two pound-for-pound greats. I give Crawford every chance in the fight, I really do. I think size is going to be a problem."
Potential Fight Dynamics
Experts highlight several key factors that could influence the outcome of a potential rematch:
- Size and Power: Canelo's size and punching power remain significant advantages.
- Crawford's Skills: Crawford's speed, boxing skills, and ring IQ could pose problems for Canelo.
- Weight Adjustment: How Crawford adjusts to the super middleweight division will be crucial.
- Canelo's Mentality: Canelo's ability to handle boxers and avoid getting outboxed will be tested.
The boxing world eagerly awaits further developments regarding this potential mega-fight.