Adding significant motivation to an already high-stakes event, Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority and President of the Saudi Boxing Federation, has announced a special bonus for a knockout victory in the upcoming clash between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford.
The highly anticipated fight, where Canelo will defend his undisputed super middleweight championship against Crawford, is set for September 13th in Las Vegas. The bonus announcement was made during the kickoff press conference held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Friday.
Alalshikh has consistently voiced his desire to eliminate passive bouts, which he refers to as “Tom & Jerry fights”—where one boxer avoids engagement while the other pursues. To actively combat this, he is introducing a knockout bonus that will be a feature of future promotions under his purview, starting with this marquee matchup.
He confirmed, “We will not have [Tom & Jerry fights] anymore… We will have in this fight and our next fights a bonus for a KO.”
Details regarding the exact amount of the bonus or whether it extends to the undercard fights were not specified. This move mirrors the approach of UFC CEO Dana White, who utilizes performance bonuses to encourage exciting finishes.
Speaking at the press conference, both Alvarez and Crawford maintained a cordial yet resolute stance on their prospects for victory.
Terence Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) expressed confidence in his ability to win regardless of the fighting style required. “However I got to fight, I`m going to win,” Crawford stated. He added, “I won`t be running. I can tell you that. But I will be doing a lot of touching.”
Canelo Alvarez (62-2-2, 39 KOs) downplayed Crawford`s threat, suggesting he was “nothing different” from previous opponents. Alvarez was unequivocal about the outcome: “He`s not going to beat me… I`m a winner.”
Crawford, known for his finishing ability with knockouts in 11 of his last 12 fights, is moving up two weight classes (from 154 to 168 pounds) to challenge the Mexican superstar. He is not only confident in preserving his undefeated record but also in making history as the first male fighter to become undisputed champion in three different weight divisions.
“For sure those belts are coming home with me,” Crawford asserted. “I`m taking them, and ain`t nothing you can do about it come fight night.”