Saudi Millions Needed to Pry Terence Crawford Off the Couch

Eddy Reynoso wants Terence Crawford back in the ring with Canelo Alvarez. Convincing Saudi backers to finance the rematch could prove tougher than restoring Canelo’s confidence. The trainer pointed to his top choice without providing a timeline. Another prolonged hiatus brings serious costs for a boxer already 36 years old.

Moments after Canelo defeated Christian Mbilli, Reynoso explained that he wanted his boxer to savor regaining a world championship before picking the next challenge. Crawford was the exact fighter he brought up for his next fight.

“Honestly, I was very happy to win this title after everything that was being said, after everything that happened in the last fight,” Reynoso said to Fight Hub TV. “I think we made it clear that Saúl has a great boxing education. He showed that today; he looked very good in the ring. Whoever comes next. I’d like Crawford to come, but we need to rest and then see what’s next.”

In the year since the win, Crawford’s ringside visibility at major cards is no accident. He understands boxing politics inside out. Staying in front of the cameras keeps his name floating in the headlines without forcing him to take a punch in camp or risk his undefeated mark against hungry, dangerous contenders like Jaron Ennis or Osleys Iglesias. He is signaling availability, but only on his own terms.

The actual hurdle is the financial side. Crawford already walked away with career-high millions from the first fight. Because he won clearly and retired on top, he possesses zero sporting incentive to run it back unless the Saudis present an absurd number. Crawford would likely demand upwards of fifty to seventy-five million dollars just to lace up gloves again. He knows Canelo needs him far more than he needs Canelo; Alvarez wants redemption, while Crawford already wrote the story.

The Saudis certainly possess the capital to write the check if Turki Alalshikh decides it is his vanity project. Crawford never built genuine mainstream box-office appeal during his prime years. Outside of the Errol Spence clash, which required Spence bringing his own established fan base to the table, Crawford consistently struggled to move pay-per-view meters.

Bob Arum famously complained about losing money on his events because Crawford refused to engage in the heavy marketing legwork, content instead to let pure ring skill do the talking.

When Turki Alalshikh funded Crawford against Israil Madrimov in Los Angeles, the event carried massive operational expenses, yet the commercial return fell completely flat. Placing him in front of Canelo produced a one-sided boxing masterclass, but running it back carries serious financial baggage for Riyadh Season.

Affordable alternatives carry equal or better heat. Options like David Benavidez, Diego Pacheco, or a UK clash with Chris Eubank Jr. provide far more explosive action at a tiny fraction of Crawford’s price tag. Benavidez alone offers built-in grudge appeal, fan hostility, and guaranteed fire in the ring without demanding a fifty-million-dollar extraction fee from retirement.

Canelo remains the actual draw. generates his base revenue no matter who shares the ring with him, and doesn’t need Crawford to guarantee a large viewing audience on Mexican Independence Day weekends and Cinco de Mayo. Paying Crawford an astronomical purse simply burns Saudi capital to settle a personal score for Reynoso and Alvarez, while doing virtually nothing to expand the commercial footprint.

Unless Turki decides he simply wants to spend personal fortune to indulge Reynoso’s request, the numbers make a Crawford rematch bad business. Better matchups exist that deliver far more fireworks for a quarter of the cost.