Boxing’s next mega fight is set, and Richard Schaefer believes it’s more than just big - it’s historic. The former Golden Boy CEO claimed this week that Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford, scheduled for September, could surpass the astronomical success of Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao, the 2015 showdown that drew a record 4.6 million pay-per-view buys.
Speaking with The Ring, Schaefer declared: “I don’t remember any fight bigger than Canelo-Crawford. It’s going to be the biggest fight in the sport for as long as I can remember.” He even added that the upcoming bout is "bigger than Mayweather-Canelo," which drew 2.2 million buys back in 2013 - a fight Schaefer co-promoted.
Still, critics are skeptical. At 35 and 38 respectively, neither Canelo nor Crawford are at their physical peaks. Canelo’s uninspired performance against William Scull raised eyebrows, while Crawford remains sharp but aging. Can this match between two future Hall-of-Famers, both potentially past their prime, really captivate the world on a MayPac level?
While the fight is undeniably huge, eclipsing Mayweather-Pacquiao’s financial record seems unlikely. That bout had six years of built-up anticipation and a perfect storm of global star power. Canelo-Crawford may break a million buys, but Schaefer’s prediction feels more like promotion than prophecy.
Still, in boxing, hype is half the battle - and if Schaefer’s bold words spark more headlines and PPV interest, they’ve already done part of the job.
Image Credit: The Ring