Turki Alalshikh Confident About Working With Canelo – ‘He Wants To Connect’
Turki Alalshikh remains optimistic that he can work with Canelo Alvarez to make fights.
The two are currently not on the best of terms. Canelo revealed that the Saudis had contacted him during the build-up to his fight with Edgar Berlanga. Canelo defends his WBA, WBC and WBO belts against the Puerto Rican on September 14 on Mexican Independence Weekend.
The contact was about trying to negotiate a future Terence Crawford fight. That did not sit well with Canelo, who refused to look past Berlanga. Canelo also hit out at Turki, stating he dislikes how he does business. Alalshikh suggested that Canelo is chasing easier fights, hinting that he is ducking David Benavidez and the Dmitry Bivol rematch.
Alalshikh On Canelo
“I know how he feels after losing to Bivol, so he’s been looking for easier fights ever since. Also, I’m not the one who’s afraid of fighting Benavidez or Crawford. Therefore, I knew he was wasting our time and making excuses with big amounts of money that can’t be paid. So I’m continuing my way to make big fights that serve the boxing world, and he’s on his way to making easy show-only fights,” Turki stated
Canelo is requesting $200 million to fight Benavidez, a sum seen as pricing himself out. Meanwhile, the Bivol rematch never happened after the talks broke down. However, Alalshikh revealed that Canelo has been in touch as he is hopeful of working with him after the Berlanga fight.
“He sent me a direct message that he wants to connect after the fight. It is nothing personal. It is business. I’d like to see it again, Crawford, and I’d like to see it against Benavidez. Of course, no one pays this kind of money. Nothing is impossible. Let’s see in the future what happens, but if someone can do it, it’s Riyadh Season,” Turki said
Canelo’s Options
The two biggest fights available are the Benavidez and Crawford one. Canelo is no longer undisputed at 168. He has limited options over who he can fight, as fans will not accept routine wins over opponents he is expected to beat. Fights against Chris Eubank Jr. or Jermall Charlo will not sit well with the public. The Saudis have shown that they put on the biggest fights.
They have made Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk and Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol, which takes place on October 12. The Saudis have put a lot of money into those fights. Canelo can demand a big purse, provided he boxes Crawford and Benavidez. A fight with Crawford is considered easier since Bud would move up two weight classes from 154.
Crawford showed against Israil Madrimov that it was tough to stop a 154-pounder due to the difference in power. Madrimov repeatedly caught Crawford. If Canelo did something similar, he would fancy himself to stop Bud. However, the fight against Benavidez is tougher. The Mexican Monster is bigger. However, since he moved up to 175, it will be difficult for the Mexican Monster to come back down in weight. But if the money is provided, the fight can happen.
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