Las Vegas hosted an extraordinary evening with the official press conference ahead of the historic showdown between Mexico’s Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez and the United States’ Terence Crawford, set to take place this Saturday night at Allegiant Stadium as part of Riyadh Season 2025.
The remarks of His Excellency Turki bin Abdulmohsen Al Alshikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA) and President of the Saudi Boxing Federation, dominated the media coverage inside the hall, as he highlighted the historic magnitude of the fight and its place as a pivotal moment in modern boxing.
In his address, Al Alshikh dismissed rumors that had circulated about injuries to either fighter, saying: “Many have spoken about a knee injury for Canelo or a shoulder issue for Crawford, but these are nothing more than unfounded rumors. I want to thank Canelo for accepting this fight and agreeing to make it happen. And frankly, we have signed with him the biggest contract in boxing history—covering three fights.”
He added: “On Saturday, I hope we witness a truly great fight where both fighters give everything they have. For me, their safety comes first, but fans around the world are waiting for the drama, for a fight that reflects the very essence of this sport.”
In another part of his remarks, Al Alshikh emphasized the symbolism of staging this clash in Las Vegas, a city synonymous with legendary boxing nights: “This is a unique and exceptional moment, with a great company, on a global platform, and featuring two of the sport’s greatest legends.”
The press conference, held at T-Mobile Arena, drew a massive turnout from international media outlets and sports broadcasters, alongside hundreds of fans eager to soak in the atmosphere of fight week. Applause and cheers punctuated every statement, while cameras flashed constantly, underscoring the global anticipation for what many are calling the “Fight of the Century.”
Canelo Alvarez exuded enthusiasm in his remarks: “I feel great. This fight means a lot to me, and I’m fully ready. I can’t wait for Saturday night. I want to thank everyone who came out to support this event. I’m so excited—I can’t wait.”
Asked where this fight ranks among his career achievements, Canelo said with confidence: “This is one of the biggest fights of my career without a doubt. A victory here means a lot—it will be at the very top of my accomplishments.”
In an emotional moment, Canelo spoke about his journey and passion for boxing, switching to Spanish: “I have always respected and loved what I do, which is boxing. Through discipline and the desire to become someone in life, I’ve reached where I am today. I got here purely because of my love for the sport. If I didn’t love it, it would have been much harder. The road hasn’t been easy—it requires a lot of discipline and sacrifice—but my passion for boxing has always carried me forward.”
On the prospect of facing David Benavidez in the future, he said: “I never say no to anything. We’ll see later, but right now, my full focus is on this fight.”
He also addressed his training with Jaron “Boots” Ennis: “I always make sure to have great sparring partners in the gym because you need strong opposition in training. We have history with this family—his older brother was there when I fought Shane Mosley. I’m happy Jaron joined the camp; he gave me great work.”
Looking ahead to Saturday, Canelo promised: “I’m going to give my best. This will be my greatest performance. I’ll put everything I have into this fight. You’ll see all my skills in the ring. If the knockout comes, great. If not, I’ll still show why I am the best.”

On his ring entrance, he surprised the audience: “This time, I’ll walk out with only my team. We’ve been waiting for this moment my entire career, and I want it to be just me and my team.”
He also expressed gratitude for his journey: “For me, this is a defining moment that proves greater things are still to come. I’m grateful for everything this sport has given me and for putting me on the right path to learn and grow. I thank everyone—those who supported me and even those who left—because each taught me something and shaped my career.”
For his part, Terence Crawford spoke with equal conviction: “Many say I haven’t fought the biggest names or strongest opponents. On Saturday, we’ll all see the truth inside the ring.”
On the broader significance of the bout, he noted: “Fights like this help boxing grow. They bring the best against the best, and that only makes the sport stronger. It will encourage more big matchups between top fighters.”
Asked about the meaning of greatness at this stage of his career, Crawford declared: “Greatness means everything to me right now. I have the chance to do something no other fighter has ever done—to become a three-time undisputed champion in three different weight divisions. I was the first to do it twice among men, and I’ll be the first to do it three times.”
When asked what worried him most heading into Saturday, he replied firmly: “Nothing at all. We did all the preparation needed. We know Canelo is a tough challenge—that’s exactly why this fight is happening. This is how legends are made.”
On his future, Crawford said: “I don’t know what the future holds, and I can’t say if this will be the biggest fight of my career. But I know great things are still ahead. All that matters now is this fight.”
The press conference concluded with the highly anticipated face-off between the two fighters, staged in front of His Excellency Turki Al Alshikh and UFC President Dana White, who hosted the event.
The world now turns its attention to tomorrow’s official weigh-in at T-Mobile Arena, the traditional final checkpoint of fight week, before Saturday night’s historic clash in Las Vegas—a night that promises to etch itself into the history books of boxing and further cement Riyadh Season as a global leader in staging iconic sporting events.