The highly anticipated clash between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford on September 13th in Las Vegas just got even more exciting. Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority and president of the Saudi Boxing Federation, announced a knockout bonus for the main event, adding a significant incentive for a decisive victory.
This announcement, made during the fight’s kickoff press conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, reflects Alalshikh’s commitment to ending what he calls “Tom & Jerry fights.” He’s aiming to eliminate the strategy of fighters avoiding direct confrontation, instead encouraging aggressive, knockout-focused bouts. This KO bonus will be a regular feature in future fights promoted by Alalshikh, beginning with the Canelo-Crawford showdown.
While the exact amount of the bonus remains undisclosed, and it’s unclear if it will extend to the undercard fights, the move mirrors the UFC’s Performance Bonus system, adding another layer of excitement and potential for high-stakes action.
Both Canelo and Crawford expressed unwavering confidence during the press conference. Crawford, undefeated at 41-0 with 31 knockouts, asserted that he won’t be running from Canelo and plans on “a lot of touching.” He’s confident he’ll not only remain undefeated but will also add all four major world title belts in a third weight division to his impressive record, making history in the process.
Canelo, with a record of 62-2-2 and 39 knockouts, downplayed Crawford’s threat, suggesting there’s nothing unique about Crawford compared to his previous opponents. He confidently stated his intention to prevent Crawford from achieving undisputed champion status in a third weight class.
The fight promises to be a spectacular event, with the added incentive of a knockout bonus heightening the anticipation. Will we see a decisive knockout victory from either fighter, claiming both the championship belts and the substantial bonus? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: this is a fight you won’t want to miss.
