Terence Crawford could see big payday, bigger challenge in super fight with Canelo Álvarez

re was a bigger prize hanging over Terence Crawford’s WBA super welterweight title fight against Israil Mrimov .

Crawford was trying to retain his crown as consensus best pound-for-pound boxer in world, remain undefeated, and become a four-division champion, all of which he accomplished with unanimous decision win on Saturday.

All that paled in comparison to prospect of a super fight against Canelo Álvarez, one that could be worth hundreds of millions of dollars to Crawford and furr elevate his standing in sport.

“Canelo, we are rey to (fight in) February,” said Turki Alalshikh, Saudi Arabian politician and financier who was behind Crawford-Mrimov card. “Crawford rey. Accept.”

financial muscle to make fight happen is in place, but Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) wasn’t reconsidering sporting merit after a closer than expected result over Mrimov.

Crawford h stopped opponent in 11 straight bouts, but that streak ended in his first fight at 154 pounds. Mrimov was able to handle and equal Crawford’s power, leing to a canny tactical contest.

Having to move up in weight again to face larger Álvarez, who will defend his super middleweight title against Edgar Berlanga on Sept. 14 in Las Vegas , could be a step too far.

Eddie Hearn, promoter who represents Mrimov and previously worked with Álvarez, described potentially facing Álvarez at 168 pounds as a “huge jump” for Crawford.

Mrimov agreed size disparity might be too much for Crawford to overcome.

“It depends on what weight y fight in, but if y’re going to be fighting in Canelo’s current weight category, I think it will be very difficult for Crawford,” Mrimov said through his manager, Vim Kornilov.

Brian McIntyre, Crawford’s trainer, said his fighter would need to highlight athleticism in a showdown with Álvarez.

“Get m legs in some shape, man, ’cause got to move. … You’re gonna have to have side to side movement with Canelo,” McIntyre said.

Those concerns might be what makes matchup enticing to Crawford. Omaha, Nebraska, native has long bristled at conventional logic in fight game, seemingly to his detriment early on in his career.

Now, at 36 years old, Crawford is in position to be centerpiece of sport. That could come against Álvarez, but Alalshikh is also championing Crawford and undefeated Vergil Ortiz Jr. at 154 pounds as an equally intriguing fight should Álvarez decline.

McIntyre mentioned a possible matchup against Sebastian Fundora, who holds WBC and WBO super welterweight belts.

“Y’all know Terence is almost done, so he’s making proof of his legacy,” McIntyre said when asked about Crawford’s next opponent.

And for a pugilist who spent most of his career being overshowed in mainstream by likes of Álvarez, Floyd Maywear and Manny Pacquiao, structure of event at BMO Stium, which included a pre-fight concert by rapper Eminem, was seemingly designed to establish Crawford at that level.

Hearn believes some of that stardust rubbed off on Mrimov, a 29-year-old from Uzbekistan, during his spirited performance.

“We still would have preferred win, but stock of Israil Mrimov has risen around world, and future is very bright,” Hearn said.

For Crawford, his next steps are seemingly dependent on Álvarez’s upcoming bout and subsequent decision.

Having done his part, Crawford exalted in moment.

“We here now,” Crawford said. “Everything happened for a reason. cream always rise to top, you know, and if you look around, I’m last man standing, and I’m one y was talking so b about.”