Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford given major boost as Turki Alalshikh reveals huge bonus
One of Canelo Alvarez or Terence Crawford will receive a huge bonus if they win their Las Vegas mega-fight by KO.
That is an incentive put on the line by Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh, who is keen to ensure their September 13 fight provides entertainment for the boxing fraternity.
It is a blockbuster event which is likely to be the biggest for the sport in the entirety of 2025, and will captivate a huge global audience.
Alvarez and Crawford yesterday faced off for the first time at a mouthwatering press conference, as verbal blows started to hit their mark.
But as the pair previewed the event, it was Alalshikh who added another layer of intrigue to the clash.
He said: "We will not have [Tom & Jerry fights] anymore.
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"We will have in this fight and our next fights a bonus for a KO.
"I am sure [Alvarez vs Crawford] will deliver for me smashing face and blood and this is the boxing."
Alalshikh has yet to disclose exactly how much the bonus will be worth, but it could be a huge financial boost.
Crawford and Alvarez are already likely to be rewarded handsomely for the seismic show, which will play out in front of 60,000 fans at the Allegiant Stadium.
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And this added incentive will no doubt spice up an already enthralling encounter between two pound-for-pound greats.
Alalshikh's incentive has likely come on the back of a dull affair, which saw Alvarez outpoint William Scull in his last fight to capture the undisputed crown in May.
The Mexican struggled to put on a show, with the challenger's negative tactics deemed a key reason for it's failure to light up the ring.
Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney also fought on a show in New York's Times' Square, and were criticised for their own performances.
Alalshikh has demanded more from fighters to put on a show, and previously suggested he will no longer host fighters who aren't willing to engage.
Crawford and Alvarez's clash is unlikely to be dull at all with two of the highest quality operators in the sport on display.
It is a fascinating duel of two greats, with Crawford making a huge step up from 154lbs to 168lbs to try and become a five-weight world champion.
Legacy and a place in the all-time great list is on the line, with stakes rarely higher.
And despite calls for either fighter to deliver a KO, Crawford has insisted he will not be advised on how to get the job done.
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He said; “However I got to fight, I’m going to win.
"I’m not going to let somebody else force me or tell me how to fight when I’ve been fighting my whole life."