In August 2024, the boxing world was abuzz with reports that Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, had publicly expressed his frustration with Canelo Alvarez. Social media posts from Alalshikh indicated that the Mexican superstar had allegedly wasted the Saudi official’s time by demanding an exorbitant purse for a potential fight against Terence Crawford, a bout Alalshikh was keen to stage. This public rebuke initially suggested that Canelo was axed from Riyadh Season plans, with Alalshikh stating his intention to focus instead on the US market “with bigger fights, especially for the legend Crawford”.
Turki Alalshikh’s Vision and Canelo’s Demands
The initial dispute highlighted a perceived ceiling to the financial investments the Saudis were willing to make, even for a fighter of Canelo’s stature. Canelo Alvarez, widely regarded as “the face of boxing,” had previously made headlines for demanding a staggering $200 million to face David Benavidez. This figure, even by the precedent set by Saudi-backed events, was deemed exceptionally high. Rumours at the time suggested Anthony Joshua earned $50 million for his fight against Francis Ngannou, with Ngannou reportedly earning more from his two Riyadh Season boxing events than his entire UFC career.
Despite the initial friction, Turki Alalshikh’s ambition to bring the biggest fights to the global stage remained undeterred. The Saudi influence in boxing has grown significantly, with Riyadh Season expanding its reach beyond the Kingdom, hosting major cards in traditional boxing strongholds like Los Angeles and London. Alalshikh has consistently voiced a desire to unify the fragmented sport and deliver “the best fights more consistently,” a vision that would ultimately see him play a pivotal role in a historic clash involving both Canelo and Crawford.
Crawford’s Ascent and Canelo’s Super Middleweight Dominance
While the Canelo-Crawford super-fight seemed off the table in August 2024, both fighters continued to solidify their legacies. Terence “Bud” Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs at the time) made his highly anticipated debut at super welterweight (154 pounds) on August 3, 2024, facing Israil Madrimov (10-0-1, 7 KOs) at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. In a competitive bout, Crawford defeated Madrimov by unanimous decision (116-112, 115-113, 115-113), capturing the WBA super welterweight title and cementing his status as a four-division world champion. This victory marked a significant milestone for Crawford, showcasing his ability to perform at an elite level across multiple weight classes.
Meanwhile, Canelo Alvarez (62-2-2, 39 KOs at the time) proceeded with his scheduled defense of his unified WBC, WBA, and WBO Super Middleweight World Championships. On September 14, 2024, Canelo faced the previously unbeaten Edgar Berlanga (22-0, 17 KOs) at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Canelo delivered a dominant performance, dropping Berlanga with a left hook in the third round and ultimately securing a unanimous decision victory (117-110, 118-109, 118-109). This win further solidified Canelo’s undisputed reign at 168 pounds, with many boxing fans, despite the victory, suggesting it was a “meaningless fight” and that Canelo should have pursued more challenging opponents like David Benavidez.
The Blockbuster That Was: Canelo vs. Crawford
Despite Turki Alalshikh’s initial public statements, the allure of a Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford super-fight proved too strong to resist. After months of speculation, the monumental clash was officially announced in May 2025 and took place on September 13, 2025, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. This fight saw Crawford, an undefeated three-division undisputed champion, make an unprecedented leap of two weight classes to challenge Canelo for his undisputed super middleweight titles.
In a historic upset, Terence Crawford delivered a masterful performance, dominating Canelo Alvarez across 12 rounds to secure a unanimous decision victory. The judges’ scorecards reflected Crawford’s superiority, handing Canelo his third professional loss. This victory made Crawford a five-division world champion and, remarkably, a three-division undisputed champion, an achievement that solidified his place among boxing’s all-time greats. The fight, streamed on Netflix, was a massive success, reportedly drawing over 41 million viewers and peaking at over 24 million concurrent streams, underscoring the immense global interest in this legacy-defining bout.
David Benavidez: A Force Across Divisions
While Canelo and Crawford were making history, David Benavidez, often cited as a “deserving challenger” for Canelo at super middleweight, continued his impressive undefeated run by moving up in weight. Benavidez (27-0, 23 KOs at the time) first ventured into the light heavyweight division, defeating former world champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk by unanimous decision on June 15, 2024, to claim the interim WBC Light Heavyweight title. He further cemented his presence at 175 pounds by defeating David Morrell Jr. on February 1, 2025, for the WBA Light Heavyweight title. Benavidez then successfully defended his WBC and WBA Light Heavyweight titles against Anthony Yarde on November 22, 2025.
Most recently, David Benavidez made history on May 2, 2026, by moving up to cruiserweight and defeating Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez via a sixth-round knockout to win the WBA and WBO Cruiserweight titles. This monumental achievement made Benavidez the first fighter to win world titles in three distinct weight classes: super middleweight, light heavyweight, and cruiserweight, further establishing his reputation as “The Mexican Monster” and a dominant force in boxing.
The landscape of boxing has dramatically shifted since August 2024. Turki Alalshikh’s influence has led to unprecedented matchups, and the initial dismissal of a Canelo-Crawford fight ultimately paved the way for one of the sport’s biggest events. With Crawford now holding the undisputed super middleweight crown, and Canelo having suffered a significant loss, the future of both divisions is ripe with possibilities. Turki Alalshikh has already confirmed plans for a Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford rematch in Saudi Arabia in 2026, indicating that the saga between these boxing titans is far from over. Meanwhile, David Benavidez continues his relentless pursuit of greatness, leaving fans to ponder what blockbuster fights Saudi Arabia’s ever-increasing hold on boxing will bring next.
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