Canelo Álvarez has broken his silence and sent shockwaves through boxing, his sole priority, the fight he wants above all others, is an immediate rematch with Terence Crawford in 2026, and negotiations are already underway.
“The rematch with Terence Crawford is what I want most, and it’s in talks right now. He’s willing to make it happen wherever,” Canelo said on Mexico’s TV Azteca.
The first encounter on September 13, 2025, in Las Vegas saw Crawford thoroughly outbox Canelo over twelve rounds, becoming the first man in the four-belt era to claim undisputed titles in three different weight classes. The defeat ended Canelo’s long reign at 168 pounds and marked only the third loss of his 66-fight career.
Canelo, fresh off elbow surgery in October, plans to return fully healthy in May 2026 for Cinco de Mayo weekend or September 2026. The fight falls under the final two bouts of his massive Riyadh Season contract, and Turki Alalshikh is reportedly eager to stage an even bigger spectacle, whether in Las Vegas, Mexico, or Saudi Arabia.
At 38 years old by the time the rematch rolls around, Crawford has flirted with retirement but has never shut the door on another enormous payday against Canelo. Those close to him say he welcomes the opportunity and believes he can repeat the performance even more convincingly.
The undisputed super-middleweight titles remain on the line, though mandatory challengers like Osleys Iglesias and Christian Mbilli could force defenses if the rematch isn’t locked in quickly.
Across social media the reaction has been instant and fierce: half the in favor of the biggest money fight left in boxing, half predicting Crawford schools him again by an even wider margin.
Either way, two of the top pound-for-pound kings, hundreds of millions of dollars, Mexican pride, and the entire 168-pound division are all hanging in the balance.
Canelo doesn’t want to end his career with Crawford holding the final word.