Saúl “Canelo” Alvarez has officially reiterated his desire for a rematch with the retired Terence “Bud” Crawford, insisting that their September 2025 encounter left the rivalry unresolved.
The 36-year-old Mexican star, who lost a 12-round unanimous decision at Allegiant Stadium, believes a second meeting is necessary for fans and to address the physical limitations he faced during the first bout.
Saúl Alvarez targets Terence Crawford rematch for legacy
While Terence Crawford remains retired after a decorated career across five divisions, the possibility of a comeback continues to hover over the super middleweight landscape.
The call for a rematch follows a definitive performance by Terence Crawford in 2025, where he landed 115 punches to the 99 of Saúl Alvarez. Despite the American’s control, particularly with a jab that found the target 45 times compared to just 16 for Saúl Alvarez, the Mexican icon claims he was compromised.
He cited leg cramps as the primary reason his body failed to respond during the championship rounds. Saúl Alvarez has since stated that for Terence Crawford to “deserve all the credit” for the victory, he must grant a rematch under different circumstances.
Speaking to Ring Magazine, Saúl Alvarez expressed his frustration that the retirement of Terence Crawford has stalled a potential sequel. He argued that the rivalry remains unfinished, emphasizing that he did not feel the way he wanted during the initial fight.
Having won 18 major world titles across five weight classes, Saúl Alvarez is focused on high-stakes matchups that define his late-career trajectory, though he is currently preparing for an October clash with Christian Mbilli.
The first fight was a financial landmark, streamed globally on Netflix and reportedly earning Terence Crawford a total payout close to $50 million, while Saúl Alvarez was expected to earn up to $150 million. However, Terence Crawford has consistently maintained that he has nothing left to prove.
He announced his retirement in December 2025 at age 38, citing a desire to preserve his health after 30 years in the sport. Whether the prospect of another massive Riyadh Season payday can lure him back remains the central question of the division.
Physical recovery and the quest for redemption
The punch statistics from their original 2025 bout highlight a clash that was competitive in spurts, with Saúl Alvarez out-landing Terence Crawford in six of the twelve rounds. However, the scorecards of 116–112, 115–113, and 115–113 reflected the cleaner work of the American.
Following the loss, Saúl Alvarez underwent left elbow surgery to address issues that had persisted through the Crawford camp and fight. He believes this recovery, combined with a camp free of leg cramps, would lead to a different outcome in a second fight.
At 36, Saúl Alvarez is clear-eyed about the ticking clock on his career. He has already achieved undisputed status in multiple divisions, but the loss to Terence Crawford remains a blemish he believes is correctable.
This drive for a specific rematch is reminiscent of other legendary rivalries that required multiple meetings to settle, though the current hurdle is not a contract dispute but the retirement of an undefeated champion who finished his career at 42-0 with 31 knockouts.
Obstacles to a comeback for retired Terence Crawford
Terence Crawford’s departure from boxing was marked by a sense of total accomplishment. As the first male fighter in the four-belt era to become an undisputed champion in three different divisions, his legacy is firmly established.
In his retirement announcement, he stressed that he would not give his health to boxing, having participated in the sport since the age of seven. For Terence Crawford, the risk of returning at 38 or 39 years old must be weighed against a career where no judge ever scored a fight against him.
The administrative side of the sport has also moved on. Terence Crawford was stripped of his WBC title after failing to pay sanctioning fees, a development that led to Christian Mbilli being elevated to full champion status. This friction with sanctioning bodies might further discourage a return to the structured world of professional title fights.
Furthermore, the absence of an automatic rematch clause in the original contract means any potential 2026 or 2027 meeting would require entirely new negotiations between the two camps.
Riyadh Season and the promotional future
The involvement of Turki Alalshikh and Riyadh Season remains the most likely catalyst for a potential return. Saúl Alvarez has acknowledged that the Saudi Arabian interest in this specific rematch is high. Having launched his own “Canelo Promotions” in early 2026, Saúl Alvarez is now more in control of his business affairs than ever before.
With the backing of major investors, the financial package offered for “Crawford vs. Canelo 2” could potentially shatter previous records for both fighters.
The sports world is currently witnessing a massive influx of capital that has occasionally pulled legends back into the spotlight. Some analysts compare the potential magnitude of this rematch to the “Golden Era” heights discussed in Women’s Boxing’s Emerging Prime, where the best frequently fight the best.
If Terence Crawford can be convinced to return, it would likely be for this specific bout rather than a traditional title defense against a younger contender like Hamzah Sheeraz.
Christian Mbilli as the immediate mandatory hurdle
Before any further progress can be made on the Crawford front, Saúl Alvarez must first navigate a dangerous title defense against Christian Mbilli in October 2026. The undefeated Frenchman was elevated to the status of WBC Super Middleweight World Champion in January 2026 and represents a significant physical test for the aging Mexican legend.
Christian Mbilli’s volume and aggression define the type of high-risk challenge that Saúl Alvarez must overcome to remain a viable draw for a Crawford superfight.
Should Saúl Alvarez fail to win in October, the narrative surrounding a Crawford rematch would likely dissolve. A loss would reinforce the idea that the 36-year-old icon is on a downward trajectory, providing Terence Crawford with even less incentive to break his retirement.
Consequently, the Mbilli fight serves as a high-stakes litmus test for Saúl Alvarez’s mobility and power following his recent surgery and the “body failure” he experienced in September 2025.
The pound-for-pound legacy in the balance
The pursuit of Terence Crawford highlights the competitive pride of Saúl Alvarez, who has often been criticized for being selective with his opponents. By chasing the only man to beat him since 2022, Saúl Alvarez is attempting to silence detractors and reclaim his spot at the very top of the pound-for-pound rankings.
This fixation on a single opponent is rare for a fighter with his resume, but it signals that the Mexican star views the Terence Crawford rivalry as the final chapter of his professional story.
For now, according to recent outlooks on the matchup, the ball remains in Terence Crawford’s court. Saúl Alvarez has made his position public: he wants the rematch, he believes he has identified the physical errors from the first fight, and he is ready to wait.
Whether the sport sees the return of “Bud” or if Saúl Alvarez is forced to look toward other champions like Osleys Iglesias will be the primary story of the super middleweight division into late 2026.
