To many fans, Canelo Alvarez may have priced himself out of reach. As things stand, even if he says ‘Open Sesame,’ the doors to one of boxing’s biggest fights might remain closed on him, at least for now. His stance on the matchup against Terence Crawford, particularly his high-priced quote, may have led His Excellency Turki Alalshikh to consider some difficult choices. Instead, the Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority in Saudi Arabia has detailed an extensive plan fans can look forward to.

Last week, during the post-fight interview, Terence Crawford was asked about a potential lineup with Canelo Alvarez. He replied that if the money was right, then a chance remains. Fast forward to the Mexican Champion. He is also open to the bout. But he has a price tag attached. ‘Bud’ Crawford became a four-division world champion last week following his unanimous win over Israil Madrimov. Canelo Alvarez will go for another title defense next month. He squares off against Edgar Berlanga. Speaking about his plan, HE Alalshikh laid out the course of action he envisaged for some of the most well-known names.

Canelo Alvarez: Not on the list anymore

Focusing on strategizing and making arrangements for upcoming fights, His Excellency Turki Alalshikh shared on concluding a significant meeting with his team. Their primary focus was on the fixtures for this year and the next. However, he had an important announcement to make. “I decided to disregard the Canelo fight, as I don’t want it anymore,” he said.

Canelo Alvarez was asked about Terence Crawford’s performance against Israil Madrimov. Emphasizing why weight classes exist, he replied that Crawford lost the fight. At the best, the match was a draw. So would he still like to face the newly-crowned four-division champion? “If the money is right, I’m mean,” when he said, the reporter mentioned the $100 million that HE Alalshikh had reportedly offered him. No, it should be $150 million, Alvarez stated.

Last week, while at the BMO Stadium, Ade Oladipo asked His Excellency Alalshikh about the Crawford-Alvarez matchup. The Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority in Saudi Arabia mentioned sending an offer to Canelo Alvarez. He replied, “If he’s smart, he will accept it… but if he doesn’t, I want (Vergil) Ortiz.”

So that’s how things stand vis-à-vis Canelo Alvarez. Implying a shift in their focus on more high-stakes events in the United States, the Riyadh Season head suggested a special emphasis on Terence Crawford.

HE Turki Alalshikh: Exciting strategies announced

But ‘Bud’ is not the only one who would benefit from his game plan. Champions like Jaron Ennis, Devin Haney, Shakur Stevenson, David Benavidez, and a few others will receive his backing for their upcoming matches. The only exception is Australian Tim Tszyu. “There’s something unclear with the communications from his team with our team, so I believe I will reconsider his situation,” HE Alalshikh said.

Speaking about upcoming boxing shows, he revealed, that a lot depends upon the outcomes of the Riyadh Season cards. On September 21, Wembley Stadium will host the Anthony Joshua–Daniel Dubois title clash. The next one on October 21, features the undisputed battle between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol. Based on how these events conclude, he will organize the card for the high-profile Tyson Fury–Oleksandr Usyk rematch on December 21 and a big event in early 2025.

It remains to be seen how Canelo Alvarez’s fans will react to the news. But for the rest, it is certainly raining boxing fights. Packed to the brim till the first quarter of next year, there’s so much to look forward to.

What do you take from HE Alalshikh’s message? You may share your view with us in the comments below.