This potential dust-up between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford is the talk of the town, after the pair sat down with His Highness Turk Alalsikh in London. Now, on paper, this fight is the stuff of dreams—two legends, plenty of belts between them and the kind of clash that makes fans go weak in the knees. But here's the rub: where is it going to happen?

Saudi Arabia is trying to crown itself the “war capital of the world”, like they're the new Vegas or something. But let's be real, throwing money at a game doesn't mean you'll get its soul. Riyadh may have gold plated everything, but where is the environment? Passion? Screaming die-hard fans from cheap seats? Not buying the idea of ​​Eddie Hearn either. told DAZN News“Canelo vs. Crawford only works for me in America. I'm not sure Canelo-Crawford will happen in Saudi if I'm honest, or at all.”

And honestly, he's got a point. Fights like this aren't just about two blokes punching each other – it's about succession. It's about the roar of the crowd at Madison Square Garden or T-Mobile Arena. You won't get the same vibe as VIPs sipping mocktails in Riyadh, pretending they know who's in the ring.

Now let's talk about the fighters. Crawford? The man is a machine. He became a four-weight world champion in 2024 by defeating Israel Madrimov. He is at the peak of his powers. And then there's Canelo, who is ticking along nicely with wins over Jaime Munguia and Edgar Berlanga. But as Hearn put it bluntly, “I don't see many options for Canelo right now.” Translation? This fight could be huge, but it's also a bit of a last roll of the dice for both of them.

If this fight happens—and it's still a big if—it needs to be somewhere that understands boxing. Somewhere with history, with the right fans, not just people there for Instagram photos. Vegas, MSG, Wembley or even Tottenham – take your pick. Anywhere but a lifeless desert PR exercise.

So, fingers crossed, this fight gets built and gets the stage it deserves. Because boxing is about more than just money—it's the roar of the crowd, history in the air, and two legends giving it everything they've got. And no amount of Saudi cash can buy it.

‼️ Turki Alalsikh meets Terence Crawford, just one day after meeting Canelo…

Alalsikh exclusively told The Ring: “The Ring is the bible of boxing, and we can see white smoke on the horizon… 2025 is going to be a crazy year for boxing and I mean it.” pic.twitter.com/YusEW7pvdN

— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) January 13, 2025