Canelo Alvarez’s Manager Makes Bold Call on Floyd Mayweather Fight Months Before Terence Crawford Showdown

Fans might be split over who walks away victorious, Canelo Alvarez or Terence Crawford? But one thing’s crystal clear: the September 13 showdown is massive. Forget Usyk vs. Fury II or Beterbiev vs. Bivol II; this fight is the real blockbuster. Crawford even went as far as to say it could probably eclipse the staggering $600 million revenue of the Mayweather–Pacquiao fight in 2015, billed ‘Fight of the Century’. Why? The historic and cultural significance of an African American vs. a Latino. Think Thomas Hearns vs. Jose Cuevas, Junior Jones vs. Marco Antonio Barrera, Floyd Mayweather vs. Jose Luis Castillo, Félix Trinidad vs. Bernard Hopkins, and even Floyd Mayweather vs. Canelo Alvarez. This long-ongoing narrative has always added electricity to boxing’s biggest nights. But with Canelo Alvarez’s underwhelming performance in his last outing against William Scull, critics have started to wonder: can he really deliver the kind of fight fans are hoping for?

Well, his longtime confidant and former Golden Boy Promotions CEO, Richard Schaefer, isn’t leaving that question unanswered. Having worked with Canelo since the fighter was just 17, Schaefer has watched not only his boxing evolve but also his earnings skyrocket. With a four-fight Saudi deal and a net worth already estimated at $275 million, Schaefer now believes Canelo Alvarez is on the brink of something historic. “We are going to get him over that next hurdle… He’s going to be the first fighter to break the billion-dollar net worth. I have zero questions about it. When? Probably next year,” Schaefer claimed confidently. And in a rare moment of agreement, he has agreed with Terence Crawford’s assertion that the upcoming fight may outsell the Mayweather–Pacquiao fight. How, you ask?

Right after Canelo Alvarez wrapped up his May 3rd win, his longtime business manager sat down for a candid chat with Fight Hub TV. “You look at actually look at Canelo’s resume. Canelo fought now it’s 21 former current world champions,” he pointed out. “There’s only two fighters in the history of boxing who have more than that. One of them is Floyd Mayweather with 24, and the other one is Manny Pacquiao with 23. And he’s [Canelo Alvarez’s] the only active fighter who fought so many world champions.” And that kind of pedigree, he argued, isn’t just impressive, it could prove decisive come September.

“Experience,” the business manager emphasized, may be the ace up Canelo’s sleeve. Terence Crawford, for all his brilliance, has fought 26 fewer professional bouts than the 34-year-old. “You look at Canelo’s resume. It is, I think, the biggest fight that can be made. I think it’s the biggest fight the sport has seen going back to as long as I can remember,” he continued.

In the end, Richard Schaefer didn’t hold back. Reflecting on the scale of the upcoming showdown, he said confidently, “I’ve done some big fights with Floyd Mayweather. And I did Floyd Mayweather and Canelo. I promoted that. So I think this one is bigger than that.” He was referring to their 2013 bout, held at a 152-pound catchweight. That event saw Mayweather pocket $41.5 million before pay-per-view sales kicked in. But the stakes, and the paycheck, appear to be even higher this time around. How much to be precise?

While the official purse for Canelo vs. Crawford hasn’t been disclosed yet, speculation has already taken off. Earlier this year, some online chatter claimed, “Canelo Alvarez is getting $150M guarantee to fight Crawford ,” quoting a Ring Magazine update that confirmed negotiations were progressing smoothly. But with the hype growing, not everyone’s buying into Canelo Alvarez’s dominant image. Shakur Stevenson, for one, has already thrown cold water on Canelo’s chances against Crawford.

Canelo Alvarez’s chances? slim to none

Though Shakur Stevenson’s bias is no secret, the Newark native still made a compelling case when defending his pick. Speaking to The Ring, Stevenson said, “I think Bud is going to cook Canelo.” While he acknowledged Canelo Alvarez’s greatness, he believes Crawford simply has all the right tools to pull off what many consider an upset.

Stevenson, moreover, dismissed the weight difference as an overblown concern, saying it only really matters in specific matchups. “Y’all make [the weight difference] something. In certain fights, yes. If this [were] David Benavidez, that would apply because he’s a lot bigger than Bud,” he explained. But against Canelo Alvarez? Stevenson doesn’t see the size gap as a true disadvantage. In fact, he hinted it could work in Bud Crawford’s favor.

Why? According to Stevenson, Canelo Alvarez is actually undersized for his weight class, especially when stacked against Crawford’s reach and movement. That difference, he argued, could tilt the fight Crawford’s way—maybe even dramatically. “I think [the stoppage] is possible,” Stevenson added, teasing the idea of a knockout. “I’m not saying it’s going to happen, but I think it’s a possibility if Canelo acts out of line, not understanding that Bud can crack, too.”

So, what do you think is more likely to happen come September? Canelo Alvarez handing Crawford his first professional loss, or “Bud” defying the odds, and becoming a three-division undisputed champion?

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