The talk of the town is this potential feud between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford, after the duo met with His Excellency Turki Al-Sheikh in London. Now, on paper, this fight is the stuff of dreams – two legends, a lot of belts between them, and the kind of clash that makes fans weak at the knees. But here’s the problem: where will it happen?

Saudi Arabia is trying to crown itself the “Fighting Capital of the World,” as if it were the new Vegas or something. But let’s be real, spending money on a sport doesn’t mean you get its soul. Riyadh may be gold-plated, but where is the atmosphere? Passion? Die-hard fans screaming from the cheap seats? Eddie Hearn isn’t buying the idea either. He said DAZN News“Canelo vs. Crawford only suits me in America. I’m not sure a Canelo-Crawford match will happen in Saudi Arabia if I’m being honest, or at all.

Frankly, he has a point. Fights like this aren’t just about two guys punching each other, they’re about legacy. It’s about the roaring crowd at Madison Square Garden or T-Mobile Arena. You won’t get the same vibe with VIPs sipping mocktails in the Riyadh, pretending they know who’s in the ring.

Now let’s talk about the fighters. Crawford? Man is a machine. He became the four-weight world champion in 2024 after dismantling Israel Madrimov. He is at the peak of his powers. Then there’s Canelo, who has impressive wins over Jaime Munguia and Edgar Berlanga. But as Hearn put it bluntly: “I don’t see a lot of options for Canelo at the moment.” translation? This fight could be huge, but it’s also the last roll of the dice for both of them.

If this fight happens – and this is still a big deal – it has to be somewhere that understands boxing. Somewhere with history, with the right fans, not just people who are there to take Instagram photos. Vegas, MSG, Wembley or even Tottenham – take your pick. Anywhere except as a soulless desert PR exercise.

So, this fight was passed and she got the stage she deserved. Because boxing is about more than just money, it’s about the buzz of the crowd, history in the air, and two legends giving it their all. No amount of Saudi cash can buy that.

‼️ Turki Al-Sheikh’s meeting with Terence Crawford just one day after his meeting with Canelo…

Al-Sheikh exclusively told The Ring: “The ring is the bible of boxing, and we are about to 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