David Morrell says a potential fight between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford “Fake” one, it’s just meant to be “business” objectives.
The Canelo-Crawford fight is not over, but Honorable Turki Alalshikh in an interview said that Crawford is still injured until May 2025. It is obvious that is when Canelo will fight next. Turki will try to consolidate that fight.
Morrell doesn’t like the idea of Canelo defending against another 154-pounder. He fought four-time unified junior middleweight champion Jermell Charlo at 168 on September 30, 2023, and it was no contest. Jermell is bigger and stronger than Crawford. He was losing power to Canelo and looked scared.
Alalshikh, when asked why he didn’t try to set up a fight between Crawford and interim WBC champion Vergil Ortiz Jr for the February 22 main card in Riyadh, said Terence was out with a minor injury.
Crawford will never fight Vergil because it’s dangerous, and he’s looking to hit the jackpot golden parachute retirement payday against Canelo. Turki had previously stated that he didn’t think Crawford would agree to fight Ortiz Jr., so it was clear that he would not opt for the February 22nd card.
WBA ‘regular’ light heavyweight champion Morrell says he doesn’t like Canelo defending his three super middleweight belts against Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs), who will be moving up from 154.
“Bulls***!” – Morrell to Canelo
Morrell feels Canelo should defend his titles at 168 instead of choosing Crawford, 37, to defend the title. He says “Bull s***” when Canelo does that.
He has fought Edgar Berlanga and Jaime Munguia before facing David Benavidez during his WBC debut. He showed no interest in fighting Morrell when he was 168 and held the WBA ‘standard’ belt.
“It’s easy. This fight is not fair,” Morrell told Fighthype, when asked about his thoughts on Crawford possibly fighting Alvarez in May 2025. “Canelo is one weight class, and Crawford is a different weight class. For business. Canelo has a lot of good fighters at 168.
“He is there [Crawford] 154. For business purposes only. For me, it’s not good. Canelo has four good guys at 168 which is a good fight. Previously, Benavidez was at 168. Why didn’t they fight? Why are you fighting for God? Canelo previously said, ‘I’ve never fought Mexicans.’ Why did you fight for God? Later, he fights Berlanga.
“You have one guy in 168 which is mandatory. So, now, of course [Canelo-Crawford] for business only. They finished their work. They have two more years, three more. Any guy with money. You have guys at 168. You don’t need a guy at 154 [Crawford]. To me, it’s bull s***.
Sanctioning bodies allow this kind of stuff to go on in sports, and it’s sad. Canelo defended his then-undisputed super middleweight title against Jermell, even though Charlo had never fought at 168 before. It looks bad if Canelo passes up the top super middleweight titles to defend against someone from 154.
Morrell vs. Benavidez: The REAL fight
“For me, the best fight is in 2025. Cuba and Mexico. It’s two young guys,” Morrell said of his fight with Benavidez on February 1. “Everybody says he’s a boogeyman. I say no. It’s a really big fight. This night is not bull s***. It is not an illusion. Everyone goes to Vegas. I promise you a good plan.”
Morrell defends his WBA ‘standard’ light heavyweight title against Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) on February 1 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The event will be shown live on PBC on Prime Video PPV. The winner of the fight will be in position to challenge for the undisputed 175-lb champion against Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol 2 repeat winner.
“Benavidez is a fake bully. Before, he talked s*** with people, and they didn’t say anything. I’m different,” Morrell said of David Benavidez being a bull without standing up to him the way he did.
Benavidez hasn’t fought anyone that was considered a 50-50 matchup in years, and he couldn’t now if he agreed to fight Morrell when he first called in 2022. He could move up to light heavyweight. early in his career to test himself instead of waiting until now.
“If you’re good, I’m good. But if you’re a bad boy, I’m a worse boy than you. “Right now, for me, it’s 100% personal,” Morrell said of Benavidez.
“I looked ready for the new team, but I know I can look better,” Morrell said during his match at 175 against Radivoje Kalajdzic on August 3.
Morrell is coming off a 12-round unanimous decision over Kalajdzic (29-3, 21 KOs), and he looked good in that fight, hurting him a few times.
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