The boxing world was set ablaze just moments ago when pound-for-pound king Terence “Bud” Crawford and super middleweight titan Saul “Canelo” Alvarez collided in a heated confrontation upon arriving at a high-stakes meeting with Saudi boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh. A viral video capturing the explosive exchange has already sent shockwaves through social media, igniting anticipation for their rumored mega-fight later this year.
The dramatic scene unfolded outside the ANB Arena, where both fighters had been summoned by Alalshikh to discuss plans for a potential September 13 showdown in Las Vegas—a bout Canelo himself has called “one of the biggest in boxing history.” As Crawford stepped out of his car, flanked by his team, Canelo—fresh off his May 3 title defense against William Scull—arrived simultaneously. What was meant to be a routine photo op turned into a verbal slugfest.
“You think you can just waltz up to 168 and take me? You’re dreaming, Bud!” Canelo barked, his voice dripping with defiance as he pointed at Crawford. The Nebraskan, never one to back down, fired back, “I’ve beaten bigger men than you in my sleep, Canelo. You’re scared of what’s coming!” The exchange escalated as security scrambled to separate the two, with Alalshikh watching from a distance, a wry smile on his face.
The video, already amassing millions of views on X within minutes, shows the fighters trading barbs for nearly a full minute before being ushered inside. Fans on social media are losing their minds, with one user posting, “This is the hype we needed—Terence vs. Canelo is about to break boxing!” Another wrote, “Canelo’s shook. Bud’s in his head already.”
The clash comes as no surprise to insiders. Crawford, the undefeated welterweight and super welterweight champ (40-0, 31 KOs), has been vocal about moving up two weight classes to challenge Canelo (62-2-2, 39 KOs) for his undisputed 168-pound crown. Alalshikh, the architect behind this blockbuster, has teased a “surprise promoter” and platform for the fight, with speculation pointing to UFC’s Dana White and the newly formed TKO Boxing league.
Today’s meeting was reportedly called to finalize details, but the fiery encounter suggests tensions are already at a boiling point. Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, has made no secret of his ambition to reshape boxing—and pitting two of its biggest stars against each other is the crown jewel of his vision. “This will be historic,” he said in a recent interview. “The world will see something unforgettable.”
Canelo, coming off a string of dominant wins, has dismissed Crawford’s credentials at super middleweight, while Bud insists his speed and skill will expose the Mexican legend. With months still to go, this impromptu showdown has set the stage for what could be an all-out war—both in and out of the ring.
