Canelo, who's 34, will first defend his IBF Super Middleweight World Title against William Scull in May. This fight is part of a deal with Riyadh Season. After that, he'll face Crawford in Las Vegas.
Alvarez has fought 66 times and lost only twice. He wants to become a two-time undisputed champion at 168 pounds. In a recent interview with ESPN, Canelo shared his thoughts on Crawford:
"He's a complete fighter."
Canelo thinks this fight will be bigger than his 2013 loss to Floyd Mayweather. He believes it will get more pay-per-view buys.
This praise is new from Canelo. Before, he said a fight with Crawford would be "easy money" because of the weight difference. Now, he seems to see Crawford as a real challenge.
Crawford, known as "Bud," is 37 and comes from Omaha. He's a switch-hitter who last fought at super-welterweight. For the Canelo fight, he'll need to gain 14 pounds.
Crawford has won world titles in four weight classes. If he beats Canelo, he'll match Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s feat of being a five-weight champion. Many think Crawford is the most talented fighter in boxing right now. He's undefeated and high in the pound-for-pound rankings.
Moving up in weight will be tough for Crawford. Some boxing experts warn that Canelo will be unlike anyone Crawford has faced before. It's a big risk, but it could define Crawford's legacy if he wins.
Before the Crawford fight, Canelo will face Scull for the IBF title. Canelo dropped this belt last year when he refused to fight Scull, who was the mandatory challenger. Scull then won the vacant title.
The planned September fight between Canelo and Crawford promises to be one of the biggest in boxing. Both fighters have a lot to prove, and fans can't wait to see what happens.