In Light Of Terence Crawford’s Retirement, What Next For Canelo Alvarez?

With the recent retirement announcement made by Terence Crawford, the last man to defeat him in the ring and the one fighter we were recently told he wanted to rumble with again, this in an effort at getting his revenge, the question now is: what next for Canelo Alvarez? Canelo, who was outboxed and at times frustrated and bamboozled by Crawford in their massive September showdown, let us know, via his trainer Eddy Reynoso, that he would be coming back for the rematch next September.

Hearing this, “Bud” called the tune, demanding a whopping $100 million for the sequel. Now, with Crawford having retired, or at least telling us he has retired (some people feel the announcement from Crawford is merely a ploy intended to gain him some serious leverage at the negotiating table, and that maybe that $100 million will now be offered to Crawford if Turki Alalshikh wants badly enough to see the rematch between he and Canelo) – what might Canelo do next instead?

Might Canelo decide to call it a career himself if he cannot get his shot at revenge over the former 135-pounder who scored a comprehensive decision win over him? Canelo, at age 35 (36 in July) may be at a stage where he needs the massive fights, the super-fights, to sufficiently motivate him. But are there any massive super-fights out there for Canelo now that the Crawford rematch seems to have vanished?

A return fight with Dmitry Bivol would be a huge fight for Canelo, and almost certainly a hugely motivating fight for him should the Mexican great try and avenge that loss. Or might Canelo agree to get it on with another 175-pound warrior, in either Artur Beterbiev or, finally, this after having been called out by him for months, David Benavidez? It goes without saying how either of these two fights would be a big, big deal.

Then there’s the possibility Canelo could get busy trying to scoop up the 168-pound belts that will soon become vacant due to “Bud’s” retirement. But would fights against the likes of Christian Mbilli, Hamzah Sheeraz, Diego Pacheco, and other young lions, this in fights for a vacant belt, really motivate and interest Canelo at this stage of his career?

It sure will be interesting to see what Canelo will opt to do next if Crawford does stay retired. It would also be interesting to hear what Canelo thinks of Crawford’s announcement.

We may well have waved goodbye to a modern great in Crawford, this at the very end of this year. Might we also soon be waving goodbye to another great in Canelo?

Terence Crawford’s Perfect Career, and the Question It Leaves Behind

As fans have no doubt read by now, Terence Crawford has announced his retirement from the ring. The 38-year-old multi-weight champion, just three months on from his massive, historic super-middleweight title win over Canelo Alvarez, says there is nothing left to prove, and just like that, “Bud’s” fighting days are over.

Of course, not everyone believes Crawford, with some fans feeling Crawford will box again and that his announcement is merely a ploy designed to see him get an edge at the negotiating table; that a rematch with Canelo is still a possibility in the opinion of some people.

But taking Crawford at his word, and why shouldn’t we, the question now being asked in many places is, where does the Nebraskan rank amongst the all-time greats of the sport? One thing is clear: Crawford has gone out perfect. Pristine. One could argue Crawford was never really challenged in any fight by any fighter, so much better, cleverer, slicker and more gifted as he was compared to any of the 42 dance partners he had during his March 2008 to September 2025 pro career.

But when we look at Crawford, 42-0(31) and his accomplishments, are we looking at a fighter who enjoyed a perfect career but not a great one? Some boxing folks tell you that only in battling serious adversity, in coming back either from defeat or from the brink of it, is when a fighter show real greatness. Crawford had all the skill in the world, but was he ever pushed hard, hurt even, in any fight he had?

One could of course argue that it is because Crawford was SO great that no man was capable of pushing him or of hurting him, and that this would have been the case had “Bud” boxed in any era. But for people who want proof of Crawford’s inner steel, his ability to dig deep and battle pain, fatigue, even self-doubt creeping in during a rough night in the ring, well, this proof is lacking.

I can hear the defensive Crawford supporters already, and them using the “hater” tag here. No, I’m as big a Crawford fan, or perhaps admirer is a better description, as anyone else. But did Crawford do things in a sport that is often called the school of hard knocks that see him deservedly ranked alongside the best of the absolute best?

Is Crawford right up there with Sugar Ray Robinson, with Muhammad Ali, with Henry Armstrong, with Roberto Duran? Each of those ring legends showed they could both dig deep down in order to win, and they also showed the ability to come back from defeat, to come back stronger even. Maybe it’s nitpicking on a superb boxer’s career and accomplishments, but Crawford never did. Again, he never had to.

So, is Terence Crawford a top 10 all-time great fighter? Top 20, for sure. World titles won at five weights – 135, 140, 147, 154, and 168 – is, of course, an amazing thing for a fighter to pull off – and Crawford really did dazzle us (and his opponents) with some beautiful, majestic ring performances.

That said, I cannot rank Crawford above the above-listed fighters, nor can I rank him above Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao, Ezzard Charles, James Toney, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Julio Cesar Chavez, Roy Jones Junior, or Pernell Whitaker. Maybe you rank some other fighters above Crawford, maybe not.

Right now, though, however highly you rank Crawford, it is time to hand him his flowers. Getting out on top, well invested, faculties intact, retiring from the sport, not being retired by the sport; this might be the finest achievement any boxer can aspire to.