Following last year’s historic undisputed clash between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, the biggest fight of 2025 is shaping up to be the blockbuster showdown between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford. Crawford, a two-weight undisputed champion, is set to leap two divisions to challenge the reigning undisputed super middleweight king, Canelo. But…

Despite the hype, recent developments have cast a shadow over the bout. After lengthy negotiations, His Excellency Turki Alalshikh successfully secured Canelo’s commitment with a four-fight deal, making the Crawford fight a reality. Yet, since the official announcement after Canelo’s win over William Scull, a few anomalies have emerged.

You see, originally, the fight was scheduled for September 12 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. However, it has since been moved to September 13 to align with Mexican Independence Day. While the date is now confirmed, the venue remains undecided, with Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and New York City currently under consideration.

However, the undisputed super middleweight champion has finally confirmed where the fight will happen. “We’re still working on it,” Canelo said when asked whether the fight would still happen in Las Vegas. However, he later added, “We’re going to do our best for the fight because it’s going to be a big one and people need to enjoy it.”

The 34-year-old concluded by reassuring fans, “Las Vegas. Of course, there’s no better weekend than Mexican Independence Day weekend.” The main issue with finalizing the venue appears to be the college football season. Allegiant Stadium is already booked for a UNLV vs. Idaho State game on September 13, and organizers are trying to avoid a scheduling conflict between the two events.

It’s also worth noting that the September 13th date is in direct conflict with UFC 320 (Noche UFC), which could have been the reason that His Excellency Turki Alalshikh announced that Dana White won’t be promoting the Canelo-Crawford fight. Regardless, as the organizers grapple with the venue problem, a former world champion has revealed what Crawford must do to beat Canelo Alvarez. 

Manny Pacquiao shares advice with Terence Crawford to beat Canelo Alvarez

Ahead of his own ring return, Manny Pacquiao offered advice to Terence Crawford on how to handle Canelo Alvarez in their upcoming September clash. Speaking to FightHub TV on May 23, the boxing legend emphasized the importance of maintaining speed when moving up in weight. “My advice is that he would make sure to focus on speed,” Pacquiao said.

 “That’s the problem when you’re moving up [in weight], that your speed and power [go]. So he needs to focus [on that].” Crawford, who is jumping up to face the naturally bigger Canelo, will face his toughest challenge yet. Meanwhile, 46-year-old Pacquiao is preparing for his own fight against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios on July 19 in Las Vegas.

That said, while the venue for the Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford fight has stirred some debate, Canelo has clarified that Las Vegas is still the most likely location for the bout. However, only time will tell whether that holds true. Do you think the venue will play a big role in how the fight turns out?