Canelo Álvarez and Terence Crawford are set to face off in a huge boxing match on September 14 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The WBO has raised the stakes by making Crawford the number one contender at super middleweight.
The WBO's decision came after they vacated Crawford's interim junior middleweight title. This move puts Crawford in direct contention for Canelo's undisputed super middleweight championship. BoxingScene reported the news, which was later confirmed by the WBO.
WBO president Gustavo Oliveri said, "Crawford will not return to 154 pounds and is now the official challenger at 168."
Canelo, the Mexican icon, holds all four major titles at super middleweight. He's coming off a win against William Scull on May 3. Crawford, with a perfect record of 41 wins and 31 knockouts, is moving up two weight classes for this fight.
The matchup brings together two fighters who've dominated different weight classes. It's a golden chance for Crawford to make history.
Canelo has shown respect for his opponent. In a Ring Magazine interview, he named Crawford as one of the top three pound-for-pound fighters alongside Oleksandr Usyk and Naoya Inoue.
During their Las Vegas press tour, Canelo said:
"Crawford is one of the best of the last decade... I don't need to trash talk. He has it all: experience, power, technique."
One of the fighters even said, "I always train as if I were going to fight Mike Tyson in his prime."
Thousands of fans, analysts, and media will watch this fight. It's one of the most important boxing matches in recent years. Canelo will defend his legacy, while Crawford aims to cement his place in boxing history.
The fight will happen at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on September 14. The whole world will be watching as these two champions clash in what promises to be an unforgettable night of boxing.
