Saul "Canelo" Alvarez Will Make AT LEAST $100 Million Fighting Terence Crawford on Saturday

On Saturday night at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Saul "Canelo" Alvarez will step into the ring against Terence Crawford in one of the most audacious and lucrative fights in recent boxing history. The bout, staged on Mexican Independence Day weekend and streamed worldwide on Netflix, pits the undisputed super middleweight champion against an undefeated challenger moving up multiple weight classes at nearly 38 years old.

Beyond the spectacle and the high stakes, the fight guarantees one thing above all else: Canelo Alvarez will walk away with no less than $100 million, making it one of the richest paydays in the sport's history.

Reports throughout the summer suggested Canelo's purse would land somewhere between $100 million and $150 million. UFC CEO Dana White, who is promoting the event alongside Saudi power broker Turki Alalshikh under the Zuffa Boxing banner, all but confirmed that number during fight week. When pressed if Alvarez would clear $100 million, White answered simply: "Probably."

That figure cements Alvarez's place as boxing's unrivaled box office attraction. It also underscores the scale of the event, which White expects to generate the third-highest live gate in boxing history, trailing only "Mayweather–Pacquiao" and "Mayweather–McGregor," but setting a new record for the largest stadium gate ever.

Canelo's Empire

Canelo Alvarez has been boxing's biggest star for more than a decade, and his career earnings have already exceeded half a billion dollars. At 35, he has collected titles across four divisions, headlined in arenas around the world, and maintained a pay-per-view draw unmatched in the sport. His role as the "A-side" extends beyond the ring: Mexican Independence Day weekend has essentially become Canelo's holiday, his fanbase is rabidly loyal, and his fights reliably deliver blockbuster revenues.

Saturday night continues that trend. Even in the rarefied air of nine-figure purses, Alvarez's guaranteed minimum payout marks another historic milestone, putting him in the same breath as Floyd Mayweather, who has earned $100 million-plus multiple times. For Canelo, the fight is not just another payday but another reminder of his unmatched economic power in boxing.

(Photo by Jeff Bottari/TKO Worldwide LLC via Getty Images)

Crawford's Gamble

On the other side of the ring is Terence "Bud" Crawford, one of the most technically gifted fighters of his generation and already an undisputed champion at both 140 and 147 pounds. By taking on Canelo at 168, Crawford is chasing history. A win would make him the first male boxer ever to achieve undisputed status in three weight classes. It is the kind of legacy-defining feat that transcends money.

At least, that's what Crawford says. On a podcast appearance leading up to the fight, he claimed his purse was just $10 million. "I'm doing it for the opportunity, baby. The legacy outweighs the money," he said. But Crawford has also been candid in the past that boxing is always about the money at the end of the day. "Once you figure that out, you realize it's always been about the money," he told CBS Sports ahead of his 2023 showdown with Errol Spence Jr.

The truth is probably somewhere in between. Crawford may well be downplaying his payday, but compared to Alvarez's massive haul, the gap is undeniable. Still, for a fighter who has long complained about being avoided by top opponents, the chance to face Alvarez is worth more than any dollar figure.

How the Fight Was Made

The unlikely matchup traces back to a meeting more than a year ago. After moving up to 154 pounds and winning a narrow decision, Crawford made it clear to Turki Alalshikh — the Saudi adviser whose billions have reshaped boxing's landscape — that the only fight he wanted was Canelo.

Alalshikh initially pushed back, suggesting more realistic options like Vergil Ortiz Jr. or Jaron "Boots" Ennis. But Crawford wouldn't budge. "That's the only fight I want," he insisted. Alalshikh relented and began working to make it happen.

Canelo, for his part, didn't need much convincing once the $100 million-plus guarantee was on the table. The economics of the fight, combined with the timing and the Saudi and Netflix backing, made it an irresistible deal. As Alalshikh said during fight week, the offer was "more than that," hinting that Canelo's final tally could exceed even the already staggering $100 million floor.

Boxing's Biggest Paydays

To understand just how big Canelo's guarantee is, it helps to see it in the context of history's richest fights:

• Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor (2017): Mayweather guaranteed $100 million, McGregor guaranteed $30 million. Mayweather reportedly earned around $280 million total, McGregor about $130 million.
• Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao (2015): Mayweather guaranteed $180 million, Pacquiao $120 million, with total revenues near $300 million.
• Mayweather vs. Canelo Alvarez (2013): Mayweather's guarantee was $41.5 million, Canelo about $5 million.
• Mayweather vs. Robert Guerrero (2013): Mayweather guaranteed $32 million, Guerrero roughly $3 million.

Canelo's $100 million minimum guarantee against Crawford instantly places him alongside Mayweather's historic super-fight hauls. Few fighters in history have reached that tier, and almost all of them involve Floyd Mayweather at the top of his earning powers. For Alvarez, joining that club underscores both his global appeal and his enduring financial might in the sport.

What's at Stake

For Canelo, Saturday represents another chapter in a career already filled with riches, titles, and accolades. He remains the sport's ultimate prizefight — the jackpot every fighter chases. Win or lose, his empire grows.

For Crawford, the stakes are existential. He has stalked Canelo for years, attending his fights, studying his style, and imagining the moment when they would finally meet. He has made clear he does not want to simply survive, as many past Canelo opponents have done. He wants to win, decisively, and in doing so claim the respect he feels has too often eluded him.

Legacy and money often collide in boxing, but rarely with this much clarity. On one side is Canelo Alvarez, guaranteed to make at least $100 million. On the other is Terence Crawford, risking everything for the chance to etch his name in history. Together, they'll deliver one of the richest nights the sport has ever seen.