In 2023, Canelo Alvarez signed a highly lucrative $100 million deal with the PBC, which was expected to elevate the promotion to unprecedented heights. The three-fight deal, which ended with his fight against Edgar Berlanga in September 2024, was meant to cement PBC’s status as one of the world’s biggest boxing promotions. However, the reality diverged significantly from expectations. Even though Canelo won all three fights with ease and got his $100 million paycheck, instead of delivering the massive revenue boost for PBC, Canelo’s selective choices in opponents—facing Jermell Charlo, Jaime Munguia, and then Berlanga—had the opposite effect. These opponents failed to ignite the kind of pay-per-view success needed to justify the enormous investment they had made.

Rather than propelling PBC into global dominance, Canelo’s decisions have worsened its financial problems. PBC now, according to several reports, finds itself facing a staggering $900 million in debt, with little to no sign of recovery. And according to a recent update by Rick Glaser, if it were up to Canelo, he wouldn’t mind adding to the financial turmoil of Al Haymon’s PBC.

The potential pitfall of Canelo Alvarez vs. William Scull?

The boxing matchmaker Rick Glaser recently took to X to weigh in on the possibility of Canelo fighting the IBF super middleweight champion William Scull. Glaser questioned the financial wisdom behind such a fight, pointing out that Scull is virtually unknown to the American public. He also pointed out that the Guadalajara native would demand a large guarantee to face an opponent who has limited commercial appeal, making the fight an unlikely draw for Amazon Prime PPV.

“There’s talks of Canelo possibly facing IBF World 168 pound Champ William Scull from Germany next on May 3. But why would PBC want that no sell fight for Amazon PPV when Canelo will want his usual big guarantee to fight a guy that the American public has never heard of,” he noted on X

According to Glaser, PBC simply cannot afford another high-cost fight that fails to generate substantial revenue, especially given its current financial crisis. “This fight makes no financial sense for PBC. And PBC is definitely no longer in position to lose money. This fight would be very foolish for PBC. But this type of buffoonery would be coming from the same PBC that has lost 900 plus million over the last 10 years. Some never learn. That’s Boxing the PBC way,” Glaser added in a critical rebuke.

For years, there have been rumors about PBC’s struggles, including trouble signing new fighters and financial issues. Despite the criticism, Al Haymon, the PBC head has kept things running. However, boxing insider Rick Glaser believes PBC’s time is running out. He pointed to a major shift in the sport, driven by Saudi Royal, His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, which could leave PBC behind.

Glaser strongly criticized PBC in a post last year, saying, “PBC is failing their fighters by keeping them inactive and failing to pay their $900 million debt.” Reports suggest that the PBC owes $900 million, and because of this, they’ve cut back on the number of pay-per-view events they hold each year. While they used to have around 40 PPVs annually, this year they didn’t even reach the double figures. And if they decide to put on the Canelo-Scull fight, Rick Glaser believes it would only worsen their worries. So what’s the way out?

Glaser’s Solution: Either Terence Crawford or David Benavidez?

When Glaser shared the X post, a user queried, “Love your honesty as always. As for a fight on PBC, who else would you propose besides Crawford?” In response, Glaser offered a potential solution, suggesting Terence Crawford as the only fighter who could deliver both financial value and competitive intrigue, outside of a fight with David Benavidez. “Crawford is the only guy that would mean something besides David Benavidez. And we already know that Canelo isn’t fighting Benavidez,” he explained.

As Glaser notes, Canelo has shown no interest in facing David Benavidez. Crawford, on the other hand, could be the perfect opponent to draw attention and revenue, given his skill set and marketability. For PBC, a Canelo-Crawford showdown could be the solution to both their financial troubles and the need for a high-profile, action-packed fight that boxing fans would line up to see. It may not completely solve the financial worry facing Al Haymon and the PBC. But at least it will go a long way in helping them make the kind of money that they thought of making when they signed Canelo to the $100 million deal in 2023.

However, the question is: Will Canelo Alvarez finally step up to the plate and face a legitimate challenge? Or will PBC continue its current trajectory of risky financial gambles? Do you think Canelo vs. Crawford is the right fight to save PBC? Do let us know your thoughts below.