Canelo Álvarez, considered by many as the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world, and Terence Crawford are close to finalizing a deal for a historic super middleweight championship fight on September 13 in Las Vegas, according to ESPN sources.

Crawford Moves Up to 168 Pounds to Face Canelo

Crawford, who recently won the 154-pound title after defeating Israil Madrimov, will make a two-division jump to fight at the 168-pound limit. There will be no catchweight clauses or rehydration restrictions, sources close to the fight confirmed.

Businessman Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, is managing the fight, although contracts have yet to be signed.

Canelo Defends His Titles Before the Showdown with Crawford

Before facing Crawford in September, Álvarez (62-2-2, 39 KOs) will fight on May 5 to defend his 168-pound titles. His possible opponent is William Scull, who holds the belt that Canelo vacated in May 2023.

If Canelo wins this fight, he will once again establish himself as the undisputed super middleweight champion before his highly anticipated showdown with Crawford.

A Clash of Legends in the Ring

At 34 years old, Canelo continues to dominate the division and currently holds the WBA, WBC, and WBO titles at 168 pounds. Since his loss to Dmitry Bivol in 2022, he has won five consecutive fights, including victories over Jaime Munguía and Edgar Berlanga in 2024.

Meanwhile, Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs), at 37 years old, remains undefeated and is considered the second-best pound-for-pound boxer in the world. His last major victory came in July 2023, when he defeated Errol Spence Jr. via TKO to become the undisputed welterweight champion.