History of Canelo Álvarez vs. Terence Crawford in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 17, 2026

The potential super-fight between Canelo Álvarez and Terence Crawford has been a frequent topic of speculation in the boxing world. Canelo, the undisputed super middleweight champion, typically competes at 168 pounds, while Terence Crawford, an undisputed champion at both welterweight and junior middleweight, would need to navigate a significant weight climb to face the Mexican superstar. While both fighters are considered among the best pound-for-pound boxers in history, the bout remains hypothetical due to the substantial weight disparity and complex promotional hurdles. Despite the logistical challenges, the matchup remains a dream scenario for many fans, representing a clash of two generational talents whose skill sets and legacies would make it one of the most commercially significant events in modern combat sports history.

1938: Henry Armstrong's Three-Division Undisputed Championship

In 1938, Henry Armstrong achieved the historic feat of becoming a three-division undisputed champion, a milestone that remains a benchmark for excellence in professional boxing.

1982: Holmes vs. Cooney Las Vegas Attendance Record

In 1982, the boxing match between Larry Holmes and Gerry Cooney drew 29,214 fans, establishing a Las Vegas attendance record that stood until the Álvarez vs. Crawford fight in 2025.

September 2024: LSU–USC College Football Game Attendance Record

In September 2024, an LSU–USC college football game was held at Allegiant Stadium, establishing an attendance record of 63,969, which would later be surpassed by the Álvarez vs. Crawford fight in 2025.

January 2025: Canelo Álvarez vs. Terence Crawford Bout Agreement

In January 2025, it was officially reported that a high-profile boxing match between Saúl "Canelo" Álvarez and Terence Crawford had been agreed upon, organized by Saudi promoter Turki Al-Sheikh.

May 28, 2025: Financial Speculation Regarding Fighter Payouts

On May 28, 2025, Terence Crawford publicly claimed his guaranteed payout for the fight would be $10 million, though industry experts and reports suggested his total compensation could be as high as $50 million. On the same date, reports indicated that Canelo Álvarez was projected to earn up to $150 million, a figure supported by his $80 million agreement with Riyadh Season.

July 2025: Turki Al-Sheikh announces multi-day undercard format for Álvarez vs. Crawford

In July 2025, Turki Al-Sheikh revealed that the promotional events and undercard proceedings for the highly anticipated boxing match between Canelo Álvarez and Terence Crawford were planned to be spread out over two or three days.

August 24, 2025: WBA Title Forfeiture and Elevation Announcement

On August 24, 2025, the WBA officially announced that Terence Crawford would forfeit his light middleweight title at the beginning of his upcoming fight. Consequently, Abass Baraou was promoted to full WBA champion to ensure the division's title remained active.

September 2, 2025: WBC presents Nahui Huey Altepemeh commemorative belt

On September 2, 2025, the World Boxing Council (WBC) officially presented the Nahui Huey Altepemeh commemorative belt, which was designated to be at stake for the upcoming bout between Canelo Álvarez and Terence Crawford.

September 4, 2025: Release of Countdown: Canelo vs. Crawford

On September 4, 2025, Netflix premiered the two-part docuseries titled "Countdown: Canelo vs. Crawford," which provided viewers with an intimate behind-the-scenes perspective on the training preparations and private lives of both athletes.

September 8, 2025: Dana White Confirms Record-Breaking Statistics for Álvarez vs. Crawford

On September 8, 2025, Dana White announced that the Álvarez vs. Crawford bout achieved the third-largest live gate in boxing history, generating $47,231,887 from an attendance of 70,482 spectators at Allegiant Stadium, while also reaching a global viewership of over 41,400,000, making it the most-watched men's championship boxing match of the 21st century.

September 13, 2025: Canelo Álvarez vs. Terence Crawford at Allegiant Stadium

On September 13, 2025, Canelo Álvarez faced Terence Crawford in the inaugural Zuffa Boxing event promoted by Dana White under TKO. The bout was held at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada, and was broadcast globally via Netflix.

September 2025: Scheduled Boxing Match in Las Vegas

A major boxing event featuring Saúl "Canelo" Álvarez and Terence Crawford is scheduled to take place in Las Vegas in September 2025, facilitated by promoter Turki Al-Sheikh.

November 2025: Álvarez Expresses Interest in Rematch

In November 2025, Canelo Álvarez publicly announced his intention to pursue a second fight with Terence Crawford, marking the first time he signaled interest in a rematch following Crawford's team's previous offers.

January 23, 2026: Zuffa Boxing 01

On January 23, 2026, Zuffa Boxing hosted its inaugural event, Zuffa Boxing 01, which was broadcast live from the Meta Apex located in Enterprise, Nevada, via the Paramount+ streaming platform.

February 2026: Postponement of Álvarez's Ring Return

In February 2026, it was reported via the show Inside The Ring that Canelo Álvarez required elbow surgery, which caused his planned ring return to be delayed until at least the third quarter of 2026.

September 2026: Scheduled Rematch Plans for Canelo Álvarez and Terence Crawford

In December 2024, Eddy Reynoso announced that Canelo Álvarez would bypass a traditional Cinco de Mayo fight in 2026 to focus exclusively on a scheduled rematch against Terence Crawford taking place in September 2026.

2026: Terence Crawford's Desperado-Inspired Fight Night Attire

In 2026, Terence Crawford debuted a specialized fight-night kit inspired by the film Desperado. The ensemble, co-designed by Everlast, Off-White, and Bespoke Boxing, utilized black velvet and Duchesse satin with a color palette derived from Off-White's Spring/Summer 2026 runway. The design was heavily embellished with over 1,000 Swarovski crystals and included custom branding across his boxing gear, which featured the word "Omaha" on the back of his shorts.