Canelo Explains Why He Can’t Walk Away From Crawford

Canelo Alvarez says his body did not respond the way he wanted on the night he faced Terence Crawford, but the bigger point may be why he felt he could not step aside in the first place.

Speaking on a Ring podcast, Alvarez described issues that surfaced during the fight, including fatigue, heavy legs, and cramps. He also made clear he was not using that as a way to take anything away from Crawford.

“My body didn’t respond the way I really wanted,” Alvarez said. “I wanted to move faster. I didn’t recuperate my weight like I needed. So, I felt a little bit tired, and my legs felt a little bit tired, too.

“I did well, even if my body didn’t really feel like I wanted. I tried, but my body didn’t respond.

“I had cramps in my legs, so it doesn’t respond the way I want.”

Alvarez then explained why the outcome still feels unfinished to him, even while giving Crawford full credit.

“I always give all his credit but we need to run it back,” Alvarez said. “That’s why, after the fight, I say ‘we need to run it back, this fight’ because I don’t feel the way I really want, and I need to make this fight happen again, and it’s going to be different.

“I think for him to deserve all the credit, he needs to give me the rematch, obviously. But he decides to retire, and we need to accept that and move forward.

“I’m going to keep moving forward and do the fights I want and fight world champions again, and that’s it. But I think the rematch will be perfect for boxing.”

Why Walking Away Was Not Simple

At the top level, fights are not always taken when everything feels perfect. Sometimes the decision is made because the cost of pulling out feels worse than the cost of going through with it.

For Alvarez, stepping aside from a Crawford fight would not have been treated like a normal withdrawal. When the opponent is that big, the timing is that tight, and the event is that public, the story quickly turns into something else.

That is what Alvarez’s comments really underline. They are less about explaining a performance and more about explaining why the option to walk away did not feel clean at the time.

Future Plans May Close The Door Further

World Boxing News understands Turki Alalshikh is working behind the scenes on Alvarez’s next move, and that direction may not naturally leave room for Crawford on the other side of the ring.

Discussions are ongoing about a WBC title challenge for Alvarez against Christian Mbilli on September 12. The already confirmed Mexico vs. The World card is part of that picture, and it is not an obvious fit for a Crawford rematch anyway.

If that is the route Alvarez takes, Crawford could end up with a long reprieve. The window may not reopen until 2027, when the question would shift from legacy talk to a simple choice: stay retired, or return for the kind of money that forces a hard decision.

In the meantime, Alvarez has done something most stars avoid. He has admitted his body did not give him what he wanted that night, while also making clear he is moving forward. That combination is why the Crawford fight still lingers in the background, even with no rematch in sight.

About the Author

Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a veteran boxing reporter with 15+ years of experience. He has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside since 2010. Read full bio.