BY BOXING HIT STAFF-
Unified super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez has expressed his concerns regarding the use of his name to promote Terence Crawford’s fight against Israil Madrimov. He feels that his name was used to artificially create interest in the bout, leading to a false impression that the winner would have a chance to fight him next. Despite Canelo never expressing interest in facing Crawford or Madrimov, their names were repeatedly mentioned during the event promotion. This tactic did not seem to have a significant impact on the event’s turnout, as journalist Kevin Iole reported that the fight lost over $10 million, with many tickets being given away.
Crawford’s Defense
Terence Crawford, on the other hand, has vehemently denied using Canelo Alvarez’s name to promote the fight against Madrimov. He stated that it is disrespectful to him to suggest that they needed to rely on Canelo’s name for promotion, emphasizing his focus on his upcoming opponent, Berlanga. Crawford claimed that whenever the media brought up questions about Canelo, he shut them down, indicating that he did not need to use Canelo’s name for publicity.
Even promoter Eddie Hearn acknowledged that Canelo’s name was utilized to generate interest in the Crawford-Madrimov event. While Crawford expressed his displeasure at Canelo for pointing out the use of his name in promotion, it could be argued that the tactic may have resulted in additional PPV buys. Instead of being defensive, Crawford could have viewed Canelo’s name being mentioned as a potential marketing strategy that could have benefited the event.
The fact that the BMO Stadium was not filled to capacity for the Crawford-Madrimov fight raises questions about Crawford’s drawing power as a boxer. If the event indeed lost over $10 million and had to give away tickets to attract an audience, it suggests that Crawford may not be a compelling option for a high-profile fight against someone like Canelo Alvarez. While Crawford may dispute the notion that Canelo’s name was crucial for promotion, the results of the event may indicate otherwise.
The debate surrounding the use of Canelo Alvarez’s name in the promotion of Terence Crawford’s fight against Israil Madrimov raises questions about the effectiveness of such tactics in the boxing world. While Crawford denies relying on Canelo’s name, the event’s financial losses and underwhelming attendance suggest that alternative promotion strategies may be needed in the future. Ultimately, the focus should be on showcasing the fighters’ skills and creating genuine excitement among fans, rather than relying on the names of other boxers for attention.
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