Turki Alalshikh Hopes That Canelo ‘Will Understand the Message’
His Excellency, Turki Alalshikh recently threw a wedge at Terence Crawford ’s (41-0, 31 KOs) long drawn plans to fight pound-for-pound king Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (61-2-2, 39 KOs). While many members of the boxing community hoped to see a Crawford vs Alvarez showdown after Bud’s recent victory against Israil Madrimov (10-1-1, 7 KOs), Alalshikh chose to disregard it in lieu of “bigger fights”. And now as the questions continue to rise, the Saudi boxing royalty hopes that Alvarez will understand the reasons behind his decision.
Talking to Fight Hub TV at the recent Virgil Ortiz (22-0, 21 KOs) vs Serhii Bohachuk (24-2, 23 KOs) showdown, Alalshikh opened up about the entire fiasco and addressed Alvarez’s comments. “I said before, and this is my opinion, I didn’t start talking about these things, he started,” he said. “That’s why I said what I said. I mean it, if he is a wise guy he will understand the message.”
Alalshihk further mentioned that he was not very happy with Canelo launching the situation into a verbal scuffle of sorts. And added that he was not the one who started speaking about Alvarez’s penchant for “easy fights”.
“I wasn’t the one who started talking about these things, he was the one who started talking about these things. He said he respects me, but he doesn’t like the things I’m doing in boxing. That’s why I said what I said, and I really mean it,” he said.
“Understand the way Alalshikh operates”
Meanwhile, Matchroom boss, Eddie Hearn, agrees with Alalshikh decision to disregard the Alvarez vs Crawford fight. Talking at Matchroom Boxing’s YouTube channel, Hearn revealed why the fight would not do well for Alalshikh’s business model, in the current timeline.
Hearn stated that Alalshikh had initially asked him to extend an invitation for talks to Alvarez. “You have to understand the way that Alalshikh operates and the way that they do business is incredible. It’s ‘This is what we want to do, this is massive, let’s get it done,’” he said. “And for one reason or another, Canelo didn’t want to have those conversations.” He further added that Alvarez was not interested in making fast paced decisions when it came to setting up fights.
“He wanted to wait till after the Berlanga fight, which frustratingly for His Excellency kills the Crawford fight for February because he wants to get that fight made now,” he said.
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