Daijiworld Media Network – Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Sep 12: In a city that has witnessed some of boxing’s most iconic battles, Saturday night’s Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford clash is being hailed as one of the biggest fights ever to take place in Las Vegas.

The historic bout will be staged at the Allegiant Stadium for the very first time, setting the stage for an electrifying showdown with an expected crowd of nearly 60,000 fans.

Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez (63-2-2, 39 KOs), the reigning unified super middleweight champion, will once again have the majority of the support from the Las Vegas crowd. The 35-year-old, considered the biggest draw in boxing today, enters the fight as a -175 favorite.

“This fight is one of the biggest of my career,” Alvarez remarked ahead of the contest.

His opponent, Terence Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) from Omaha, Nebraska, is attempting something historic — moving up two weight classes in search of a third unified division title, a feat never before achieved by a male boxer.

“This is a massive fight. People are talking about it across the world,” Crawford said, reflecting the global buzz surrounding the event.

Veteran matchmaker Bruce Trampler, inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, compared it to some of the legendary Las Vegas bouts of the past. “Two champions, two contrasting styles, two massive fan bases — this fight has all the ingredients to go down as one of the greatest,” he observed.

Las Vegas, long regarded as the “Fight Capital of the World,” has hosted timeless contests — from Ali vs Holmes (1980) to Hagler vs Hearns (1985), Tyson vs Holyfield (1996, 1997), and Mayweather vs Pacquiao (2015). Many experts believe Canelo vs Crawford could soon be added to this illustrious list.

While Alvarez remains the bigger star, Crawford has the opportunity to elevate his legacy with a win. “If Crawford wins, his star power will rise to another level,” said combat sports analyst Kevin Iole.

The event is also significant for fans, as it will be available to stream on Netflix, moving away from the traditional pay-per-view model. UFC President Dana White, who is co-promoting the card along with Riyadh Season, called it “the biggest event of the year in Las Vegas.”

The undercard features promising matchups, including Callum Walsh (14-0, 11 KOs) of Ireland facing Fernando Vargas Jr. (17-0, 15 KOs) of Las Vegas, and Christian Mbilli (29-0, 24 KOs) of France defending his WBC interim super middleweight title against unbeaten Lester Martinez (19-0, 16 KOs) of Guatemala.

With global attention fixed on Las Vegas, the Alvarez-Crawford encounter is expected to be a night boxing fans will remember for years to come.