Terence Crawford has entered retirement following his undisputed victory over Canelo Alvarez, but Saudi promoter Turki Alalshikh is reportedly preparing a 50 million dollar purse to coax the 39-year-old back into the ring for potential bouts against Alvarez or Ryan Garcia.
Crawford remains one of boxing’s most decorated champions after capturing undisputed titles across three weight divisions. Yet his recent ring performances highlighted the physical concessions of age. Before his decision win over Alvarez, Crawford struggled to establish dominance against Israil Madrimov. Against Alvarez, Crawford adjusted by using lateral movement, clinching, and high jab volume to neutralize his opponent. Alvarez connected on just 99 of 354 thrown punches before tiring in the championship rounds, allowing Crawford to control the distance without taking tactical risks.
Crawford’s ring output has noticeably slowed. At 39, he favors positional control over explosive exchanges.
Alalshikh’s targeted fight list relies heavily on Crawford’s drawing power, though future plans remain contingent on upcoming results. A rematch with Alvarez depends entirely on the outcome of Alvarez’s scheduled bout against Christian Mbilli on 31 October. A defeat for Alvarez would diminish the commercial appeal of a second meeting, leaving Garcia as the primary alternative. Garcia offers high public visibility and social media reach, particularly if he completes a reported move to Zuffa Boxing. However, staging Crawford against Garcia carries financial risk if Crawford opts for another low-risk defensive strategy that alienates paying viewers. Significantly, active contender Jaron Ennis was excluded from Alalshikh’s plans. Ennis possesses the high punch volume and pace capable of breaking down Crawford’s defensive shell, making him a dangerous adversary for any high-stakes comeback.
