Terence Crawford would have considered a rematch with Canelo Alvarez, but contractual restrictions made a second fight impossible. Following their September bout for Canelo’s undisputed crown, Crawford achieved a unanimous decision victory despite moving up two weight classes.
Many viewed Crawford as an underdog due to the significant size difference, with Canelo having remained unbeaten since his 2022 loss to Dmitry Bivol. However, Crawford successfully dethroned the long-reigning super-middleweight champion, becoming a three-division undisputed titleholder in the process.
The American announced his retirement shortly after, ending speculation about an immediate rematch between the two future Hall of Famers. There had also been discussions about a potential fight with Janibek Alimkhanuly, which would have given Crawford the opportunity to become a six-division world champion.
Regarding a possible Canelo rematch, Crawford stated that contract terms were the determining factor: “Canelo [rematch] was off the table. There was no rematch clause. If the rematch clause was in the contract then I would have honoured that.”
Crawford expressed interest in moving to middleweight, but only for an undisputed championship bout. This opportunity was eliminated when Alimkhanuly, then-IBF and WBO champion, failed a doping test before his three-belt unification match with Erislandy Lara. Had the Alimkhanuly-Lara winner faced WBC champion Carlos Adames, Crawford might have reconsidered retirement.
