TERENCE CRAWFORD says he is on the verge of boxing’s greatest fight in 20 YEARS with Canelo Alvarez – after they broke bread over dinner.
The unbeaten American steps up to super-middleweight to challenge Mexico’s undisputed champion on September 13 in Las Vegas.
Crawford compared the bout to boxing’s biggest ever and said: “Over the last 20 years I can definitely say it’s up there.”
UFC boss Dana White will enter the boxing space to promote the fight and Netflix will broadcast.
They debuted in boxing in November when over 100 MILLION watched Jake Paul beat 58-year-old Mike Tyson – causing the stream to crash.
But Crawford – a three-weight world champ with 41 straight wins – says he and 67-fight icon Canelo are the real stars of the show.
He said: “Me and Canelo is the talent without me and Canelo this wouldn’t be happening.
“So me and Canelo are definitely making this event as massive as possible given the work and body of work that he’s put in the sport the body of work that I’ve put in the sport.
“The accomplishments that he has, the accomplishments that I have in the sport.
“So when you look at it, we did this together with the work that he did and the work that I did.”
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS
The mutual respect extended to a dinner together with Saudi boxing supremo Turki Alalshikh – a day before their Riyadh launch press conference.
But Crawford promised to leave a bad taste in the ring as he said: “I don’t need no dislike to fight Canelo.
“I don’t need to hate him, I don’t need to dislike him. But come fight night, the dislike and the hatred will be there.”
Canelo has won titles in four divisions and remains the sport’s biggest draw after 20 years as a professional when he started aged 15.
Crawford meanwhile defends his prized undefeated record at the Las Vegas Raiders’ £1BILLION, 65,000-seat stadium.
And he dubbed it the most important fight of his life.
He said: “Everything is up for grabs. Three-time undisputed, three different weight classes, going up two weight divisions.
“Undefeated in the 168 division in Canelo Alvarez. Another all-time great, Hall of Famer in Canelo Alvarez. Everything is on the line in this fight.”
Canelo won back his undisputed throne at 168lb in May with a laboured win over Cuban William Scull, 32, in Saudi.
He faced off afterwards with Crawford, 37, who is yet to return since winning the 154 WBA belt last August against Israil Madrimov, 30.
And the Omaha hero – who has a street named after him in Nebraska – warned the pressure is shared between the superstar pair.
He said: “We both wanna win. I don’t see why it’s less pressure on me. I wanna win, I don’t wanna lose! I’m not gonna lose.
“I want to become undisputed in three weight classes.”
Crawford facing off with Canelo[/caption]
