Recently retired champion Terence Crawford has stated Canelo Alvarez is “for sure” still the face of boxing. The declaration dismisses rising star Jaron Ennis, with Crawford insisting his former opponent’s commercial power and activity keep him at the sport’s pinnacle.
The debate follows a standout performance last month from Ennis, who claimed the WBO and WBA titles with a sixth-round stoppage of Xander Zayas. That victory led some observers to suggest ‘Boots’ was the new standard-bearer for the sport. However, Crawford, who retired in December, believes the two-weight unified champion has not yet built the mainstream profile required for such a title.
When asked directly about the matter, Crawford was unequivocal in his assessment of who currently holds the top spot. He told The Breakfast Club: “Canelo’s still the face of boxing. For sure.” This endorsement comes less than a year after Crawford secured a unanimous decision victory over Alvarez in a super-middleweight unification bout last September.
Despite that defeat, Alvarez’s status as a major pay-per-view attraction remains intact after more than a decade of headlining major events. His significant support within American and Hispanic communities ensures he continues to command widespread attention. While inching closer to retirement, he is still actively competing at the highest level.
Alvarez is now preparing to challenge for a world title once again. He is scheduled to face Christian Mbilli for the WBC super-middleweight championship in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in late October. Mbilli was elevated from interim to full champion following Crawford’s retirement. The upcoming contest reinforces Crawford’s point that Canelo continues to secure the sport’s most significant fights, maintaining his position as its central figure.
