Unbeaten super-middleweight star Pavel Silyagin has spoken of his “dream” of facing the winner of Saturday’s Las Vegas mega-fight between Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Terence Crawford.
Ranked at #6 with the IBF and #8 with the WBA, the stylish Silyagin (16-0-1, 7 KOs) returns to action when he takes on hard-hitting Venezuelan Keiber Gonzalez for the IBA Pro Inter-Continental title on September 26 at IBA Pro 10 in Ufa.
However, just days away from one of the biggest fights of the year, the Novosibirsk-native took time out of his busy schedule to give his view on this weekend’s undisputed title showdown and declare his interest in facing the winner.
“I think Saul Alvarez has a slight advantage here,” said Silyagin when asked for his prediction on the match-up.
“Because he [Canelo] is in his usual weight class, unlike Crawford. I know Terence is a great boxer. Is he [Crawford] the greatest in history if he is victorious? It’s a strong epithet, but maybe he deserves it.”
Having already booked impressive victories over former IBO world champion Carlos Gongora and previously-unbeaten Argentine banger Pablo Corzo in 2025, Silyagin believes he is prepared to step-up and face the winner of Saturday’s showpiece event.
“Of course I would be interested in facing the winner of Canelo vs Crawford. I am highly ranked with two of the governing bodies and they are two amazing fighters.
“It does not matter who is victorious, I am prepared to face the strongest opponent.”
Despite being within touching distance of a shot at a world title, Silyagin insists he remains focused on the threat posed by Gonzalez (21-1, 18 KOs) on September 26.
However, the 32-year-old went on to admit that he has imagined what it would be like to share the ring with Mexican icon Alvarez; even to the extent that he had recently dreamed that the pair had shared the ring in sparring.
“Right now I am focused on Keiber Gonzalez – he is a dangerous opponent – but do I think about a fight against Canelo? Of course. I even had a dream about how we went to spar with him!
“In my dream, I touched his gloves, and they were made of concrete – as if I had to go out against concrete fists. The main thing for me in a fight with Canelo is to conserve my energy and ensure I am fit in the later rounds. If I do that, I can win.”
Pavel Silyagin faces Keiber Gonzalez as part of an evening of world-class professional boxing in Ufa, Bashkhorston, courtesy of International Boxing Association (IBA) President Umar Kremlev and IBA Pro CEO and Promoter Al Siesta
