SHOCKING: Terence Crawford LOSES IT on Canelo Alvarez in Front of Turki Alalshikh at Live Press Conference!
In an explosive scene that has set the boxing world on fire, undisputed welterweight champion Terence “Bud” Crawford unleashed a fiery verbal assault on Saul “Canelo” Alvarez during a live press conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on June 22, 2025, with Saudi financier Turki Alalshikh watching from the front row. The heated confrontation, which erupted ahead of their rumored 2025 superfight, left fans and media stunned as Crawford vowed to “embarrass” the Mexican superstar.
The press conference, hosted by Alalshikh’s Riyadh Season to promote upcoming boxing events, was meant to tease a potential Crawford-Alvarez clash at super middleweight. However, tensions boiled over when Canelo, the undisputed 168-pound champion, dismissed Crawford’s credentials, saying, “He’s great at welterweight, but this is my division. He’s too small, too light.” Crawford, known for his cool demeanor, snapped, standing up and pointing at Canelo. “You keep talking that weight nonsense, but I’ll climb up and shut you up! I’m gonna embarrass you in front of the world!” Crawford roared, prompting gasps from the crowd.
Turki Alalshikh, who has been instrumental in securing mega-fights like Fury-Usyk, remained stone-faced but later tweeted on X, “This fight MUST happen. The world deserves it.” The exchange escalated when Canelo smirked and responded, “You’re dreaming, Bud. Go back to 147.” Crawford fired back, “I’ve knocked out bigger men than you, and I’ll do it again. Name the date!” The verbal sparring continued for several minutes, with moderator Stephen A. Smith struggling to regain control.
The outburst comes amid months of negotiations for a Crawford-Alvarez fight, with Alalshikh reportedly offering a $150 million purse split to make it happen in September 2025. Crawford, fresh off his August 2024 knockout of Israil Madrimov to claim the WBA super welterweight title, has been campaigning to challenge Canelo at 168 pounds, a move that would see him jump two weight classes. Fans on X were divided, with one user posting, “Bud’s got heart, but Canelo’s too big. This is suicide,” while another wrote, “Crawford’s different. He’ll outbox Canelo and shock everyone.”
Boxing legends weighed in post-conference. Roy Jones Jr. told BoxingScene, “Bud’s got that dog in him. Size don’t matter when you’re that skilled.” Meanwhile, Oscar De La Hoya, Canelo’s former promoter, cautioned, “Crawford’s biting off more than he can chew. Canelo’s a beast at 168.” The clash has only heightened anticipation, with Eddie Hearn calling it “the biggest fight in boxing” on Sky Sports.
Crawford’s uncharacteristic outburst revealed his hunger to prove doubters wrong, referencing his 41-0 record and undisputed titles at 140 and 147 pounds. “I’ve beaten everyone they said I couldn’t. Canelo’s just another name,” he said before storming offstage. Canelo, unfazed, told reporters, “Let him talk. He’ll see what happens in the ring.”
As Alalshikh pushes to finalize the megafight, the boxing world is buzzing over whether Crawford’s audacious challenge will lead to a historic upset or a humbling defeat. One thing is certain: this press conference meltdown has made Crawford vs. Canelo the most talked-about fight of 2025.
