Canelo’s Saturday showdown with undefeated Terence Crawford won’t be on free TV in Mexico

hace 2 semanas 23

In 1 of boxing’s most-anticipated matchups successful caller years, Guadalajara autochthonal Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez volition enactment his 4 ace middleweight belts connected the enactment Saturday nighttime successful Las Vegas against undefeated American Terence “Bud” Crawford.

But adjacent arsenic the combat carries the value of history, the bulk of Álvarez’s instrumentality basal is feeling stung: For the archetypal clip successful 16 years, 1 of the superstar’s fights volition not beryllium connected escaped tv successful Mexico.

Instead, the bout volition beryllium streaming exclusively connected Netflix, a landmark displacement that signals the sport’s clasp of streaming platforms — but besides means fans successful Mexico volition suffer entree to what had go a nationalist ritual connected Independence Day weekend.

Over the past fewer years, Álvarez — whose grounds of 63 wins, 2 losses and 2 draws includes 39 knockouts — has mostly fought connected the weekends closest to Cinco de Mayo and Día de la Independencia.

Usually, the fights were disposable lone connected pay-per-view services, but successful Mexico, they were ever shown connected escaped TV.

Until now.

In statements to the Spanish-language boxing quality website Izquierdazo, arsenic reported by the sports quality outlet Medio Tiempo, the ginger-haired, freckle-faced aboriginal Hall of Famer blamed the concern connected “mismanagement.”

“In my contract, I ever effort to unafraid the rights to Mexico truthful radical tin bask them for free,” helium said. “It was mediocre connection [this time], but let’s anticipation it doesn’t hap again.”

Then again, for boxing fans successful the U.S., Canada and elsewhere, the alteration tin beryllium seen successful a affirmative light.

Unlike past fights buried down costly pay-per-view barriers, this blockbuster arrives connected Netflix without an added fee, meaning galore volition get their archetypal accidental to ticker Álvarez, who is expected to participate the ringing astir 9 p.m. Mexico City clip connected Saturday.

The combat itself is nary tiny occasion.

For starters, Álvarez reclaimed his presumption arsenic a four-belt (“undisputed”) champion with a May 3 triumph implicit William Scull successful Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Though helium hasn’t won by knockout since Nov. 26, 2021, the savvy counter-puncher has famously ne'er been knocked down successful 67 pro fights and is 10-0 arsenic a ace middleweight (76.2 kilograms, oregon 168 pounds). Recent quality reports person called him “the look of boxing for astir 2 decades.”

At property 35, helium volition participate the bout against the 37-year-old Crawford arsenic a mean favorite. Crawford, who is 1 centimeter taller than the 172-cm Álvarez (5-foot-7) and has a 9-cm scope advantage, has a pro grounds of 41-0, with 31 wins by knockout.

And portion Álvarez is ESPN’s No. 8 pound-for-pound fighter close present — from 2021-22, helium was No. 1 for astir 12 months — Crawford is an awesome No. 3 connected the existent list.

But helium is moving up 2 value classes and hasn’t fought since winning the WBA inferior middleweight title successful August 2024.

Beyond the matchup, the bout is being held not successful an arena but astatine Allegiant Stadium, which is expected to scope oregon attack afloat capableness of 65,000, making it 1 of the largest boxing attendances successful U.S. past and a grounds for Las Vegas boxing venues.

Álvarez showed up successful Sin City this week successful a acquainted premix of spectacle and patriotism that comes with his September fights. Dressed successful a crisp achromatic suit, helium thanked his countrymen:

“On these important dates for Mexico, convey you each and agelong unrecorded Mexico, cabrones,” he said, portion besides predicting that he’ll triumph by knockout.

With reports from ESPN.com, Medio Tiempo and Associated Press

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