Santos Saúl Álvarez Barragán vs. Terence Allan Crawford, Jr.

The first question from the press is a very milquetoast one, asking how they're both feeling heading into the big event. They both say "great".

Canelo says he's looking forward to Saturday and considers it among the biggest fights of his career.

Bud says everybody will see for themselves how much of a "nobody" he is.

 

Crawford says that hopefully their bout ushers in an era where the best are inspired to always take on their fellow best. He says the question of who is greater will be settled and done in the history books in a few days.

Álvarez is asked whether he still has a passion for the sport and he says he wouldn't have been able to dominate it for the last ten years if he didn't have the discipline and love of the game.

 

Álvarez is asked about David Benavidez and whether that match-up could be in play after this one. He says never ducks anybody or says no to a fight, but right now he's just concentrating on the man in front of him (Crawford).

Another asks about Eddie Reynoso saying this is the best Canelo has looked in camp in twenty years, prompting Canelo to predict how good a performance he will give. "The best", he promises.

 

Crawford is asked about Álvarez getting favorable judging (the draw card versus Mayweather and the first two razor-thin wins over Golovkin). Bud says he can't control any of that but he's just going to execute what he sets out to and get it done (doesn't go as far as saying he'll get the stoppage to take it out of their hands, though). He says he's here for a reason and "God don't make no mistakes".

 

One journalist starts grilling Dana White about going after the Ali Act and whether he is trying to monopolize boxing the way he did MMA. White gets very flustered and calls him an ******* and tells him to ask Crawford and Álvarez questions about their fight specifically and to try and schedule an interview with him if he wants to show off with "gotcha" questions.

 

Kenny Bayless is a reporter now??

Apparently so...but he doesn't have a question, just wants to wish them both luck as he knows both Canelo and Bud from reffing them in the past.

 

Very corny question by a Latino journalist "Terence, are joo ready to feel the Mexican power???" and his response is equally corny, a Kool-Aid man style "oh yeahhhhh " with a big dumb grin.

 

Canelo is asked by some guy in a hoodie and backward baseball cap with a British accent why he changed his mind after at one point dismissing Bud as a potential opponent (saying he's too small and he wouldn't get credit). Canelo gives a kind of non-answer, basically just saying they kept asking and that once Turki and Netflix got involved he realized the actual enormity of it for the sport.

 

That same British guy praises Crawford for the Spence victory in 2023, and says "you told me before that fight that you could beat Spence in basketball or anything else...do you have the same confidence that you are superior athletically to Canelo in every way?"

Bud says yes, the only thing Álvarez could beat him in would be maybe horseback riding, "because I've never ridden a horse".

 

Crawford is asked what he's most concerned about on Saturday. He chuckles and says "Nothing. We put in all the prep; we know what we're up against"

 

A dude with dreads in a Hagler-Hearns tee shirt asks Canelo what he considers a prouder accomplishment - his in-ring exploits, or trailblazing for Mexican competitors on the business side (being the first to make deals with every major promoter and platform in the game). He says all of it.

The same guy asks Crawford to explain to Álvarez's fans who may not know what "getting active" means, as this is the most hostile build-up to a fight for him since Spence. Crawford says "in the hood we talk about BTA (Belt to Ass), but I ain't the belt. I'm the buckle. It hurts more."

 

Bud addresses the negative narratives surrounding him for years: that he fights nobodies, can't draw money, has no personality...pointing around and saying "what about this, then? Look at me now..."

 

Álvarez says he loves and enjoys even the daily grind and minutiae of training camp, as it's making history that motivates him at this point and makes every moment feel worthwhile. He "feels blessed".