Canelo Alvarez, Terence Crawford and TKO Boxing rock fans with shocking fight delay and venue twist

In a surprising twist, the highly anticipated showdown between Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Terence Crawford has undergone a significant change in schedule and location. Originally slated for Friday, September 12, 2025, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, the bout has now been rescheduled for the following day—Saturday, September 13—with the final venue still to be determined.

According to sources close to the promotion, TKO Boxing—the Saudi-backed company spearheading the event—opted to delay the fight by 24 hours in an effort to avoid a clash with the college football calendar and to enhance broadcast reach. The organization is now weighing three possible host cities for the historic bout: New York, Los Angeles, and a return to Las Vegas.

“The Canelo Alvarez-Terence Crawford Ring Magazine super middleweight championship fight will now take place on Saturday, September 13th, Turki Alalshikh tells The Ring’s Mike Coppinger. The Riyadh Season PPV event could land in five potential locations across New York City, Los Angeles or Las Vegas.“ via @ringmagazine on “X”

Strategic shift aims to boost impact

Behind the scenes, Turki Alalshikh, a key architect of the event and a central figure within TKO Boxing, is believed to be driving the decision. With this being the company’s first official marquee card, every detail is being carefully calibrated for maximum visibility, ticket revenue, and global viewership.

The Canelo-Crawford matchup has been billed as a generational clash, with Crawford aiming to make history by becoming the first male boxer to claim undisputed titles in three different weight divisions. Meanwhile, Canelo remains the biggest draw in boxing today and is expected to bring considerable fanfare wherever the venue lands.

Although the change adds a layer of uncertainty, it underscores the event’s massive commercial weight and the lengths to which organizers are going to ensure it becomes a global spectacle.