Terence Crawford recently denied accusations of using Canelo Alvarez’s name to boost the promotion of his fight against Israil Madrimov. Despite Canelo never expressing interest in fighting either Crawford or Madrimov, Crawford’s camp repeatedly mentioned Canelo during the event promotion.
According to journalist Kevin Iole, the Crawford-Madrimov event suffered significant financial losses, with over $10 million lost and tickets being given away. Despite the heavy promotion surrounding the potential of a Canelo fight for the winner, the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles failed to fill up. This raises questions about Crawford’s drawing power and whether he is a viable option for Canelo.
Crawford’s Response
In response to the allegations, Terence Crawford defended himself, claiming that he never used Canelo’s name for promotion purposes. He expressed his focus on the fight against Israil Madrimov and mentioned that whenever the media brought up Canelo, he redirected the conversation. Crawford seemed dismissive of the idea that he needed Canelo’s name to sell the fight.
While Canelo pointed out the frequent use of his name during the event promotion, it can be viewed as a strategic move rather than disrespect. Even promoter Eddie Hearn acknowledged the tactic of leveraging Canelo’s popularity to attract fans. Crawford’s reaction to the situation seemed defensive, suggesting that mentioning Canelo enhanced the fight’s appeal and potentially increased PPV buys.
Rather than being defensive, Crawford could have embraced the opportunity presented by associating with Canelo’s name. By acknowledging the interest generated by linking his fight to a potential bout with Canelo, Crawford could have leveraged the buzz to elevate his status in the boxing world. Instead of denying the claims, Crawford could have used the situation to his advantage.
The controversy surrounding the use of Canelo Alvarez’s name in promoting the Crawford-Madrimov fight highlights the complexities of marketing and promotion in the boxing world. While Crawford denied any wrongdoing, the situation presents an opportunity for fighters to capitalize on the hype surrounding bigger names in the sport. Moving forward, fighters like Crawford could benefit from embracing such opportunities rather than dismissing them.