Terence Crawford looking to his next opponent following Canelo Alvarez triumph

Terence Crawford to fight on in 2026

Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford (42-0, 31 KOs) knocked King Canelo off his pedestal in September, as he expertly outpointed the stalking Mexican at a mammoth Las Vegas event.

His victory saw the Omaha native make history, becoming the first three-weight undisputed champion in the four-belt era.

His accomplishments left many wondering whether the 38-year-old will finally call time on his near-perfect career.

However, it has since been revealed that ‘Bud’ intends to fight on, reportedly eyeing a return to action in March, according to journalist Chris Mannix .

No opponent has yet been confirmed, though the general consensus is that Janibek Alimkhanuly (17-0, 12 KO’s) is the likely foe, assuming he can come through his unification battle with Erislandy Lara on December 6 .

Crawford has already revealed his interest in the potential matchup, as he declared his interest in a video with Alimkhanuly’s manager at a recent WBO convention.

“I got my eyes on you Janibek. Good luck!” he stated.

Who is Janibek Alimkhanuly?

The undefeated Kazakh boxer is widely regarded as the top dog in the Middleweight division.

Currently holding both the WBO and IBF straps, ‘Qazaq Style’ has built a dangerous reputation. Showcasing stoppage power all the while, have the technical attributes and ring IQ to dictate the pace of play, leading to some extremely one-sided decisions.

The 32-year-old is a born winner, and as a result is the heavy favourite ahead of his contest against the experienced but admittedly uninspiring Erislandy Lara.

However, Crawford will present a new challenge. The American will return as one of the greatest to ever do it, showcasing a chameleon-like ability to adapt and overcome.

While the fight is yet to be set in stone, Crawford’s proposed March return appears to line up nicely, giving the Kazakh fighter plenty of time to recover and reset should his unification attempt prove successful.