04/06/2026
Terence Crawford Explains Why Canelo Alvarez Refused to Retire After Defeat
Terence Crawford believes Saul "Canelo" Alvarez has one major reason for continuing his boxing career despite suffering a career-defining defeat to the unbeaten American.
After outclassing Alvarez to capture the undisputed super-middleweight championship, Crawford surprised the boxing world by announcing his retirement, walking away from the sport at the pinnacle of his career. In contrast, Canelo chose to continue fighting, immediately setting his sights on another world title opportunity.
Many fans and analysts viewed Crawford's victory as confirmation that Alvarez, despite his legendary résumé, is no longer the dominant force he once was. The Mexican star has accumulated significant mileage across a 20-year professional career, having debuted at just 15 years old and competed in 68 professional bouts.
Warning signs had emerged in recent years. Since returning to the 168-pound division following his defeat to Dmitry Bivol, Canelo recorded six consecutive unanimous decision victories but faced criticism for failing to produce the explosive finishes that once defined his reign.
Against Crawford, those concerns appeared justified. The Omaha native handed Alvarez the first super-middleweight defeat of his career and stripped him of his undisputed crown.
Yet while Crawford opted to retire following the biggest win of his career, Canelo remains determined to continue competing at the highest level. The Mexican superstar is now preparing to challenge Christian Mbilli for the WBC super-middleweight title in September.
Speaking during a DAZN broadcast, Crawford revealed why he believes Alvarez has chosen not to walk away from the sport.
> “Canelo won’t want to end his career on a loss like he did with me. So, I can see Canelo wanting to come back and prove himself and be back champion, do the things he wanted to do in the sport of boxing and then leave on his own terms.”
According to Crawford, pride and legacy are driving Alvarez's decision. Rather than allowing his final chapter to be defined by defeat, the former undisputed champion appears determined to reclaim world-title status before eventually calling time on his illustrious career.
Canelo's next opportunity comes on September 12 when he faces Christian Mbilli atop a "Mexico vs. The World" themed card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with another world championship potentially on the line.
