BoMac Says Crawford Will Keep His Belts And Not Face Benavidez

Trainer Brian ‘BoMac’ McIntyre rejected the possibility of Terence Crawford fighting David Benavidez next after Bud’s victory over Canelo Alvarez last Saturday night.

Benavidez Fight Not Happening

‘BoMac’ says Crawford (42-0, 31 KOs) won’t fight Benavidez, nor will he vacate the undisputed super middleweight championship belts he won. He states they’re going to sit with the titles, wait, and return to the gym.

Turki Alalshikh posted this on social media last night: “Can David Benavidez still make 168 pounds?”

Fans interpreted that comment to mean that Turki wants Benavidez for Crawford’s first defense of his undisputed super middleweight championship. It makes sense because it’s a fight that would sell to the American audience.

If Crawford and BoMac have ideas of hand-picking a contender at 168  for him to fight next, hoping to get similar money that he received for Canelo, it’s not happening. Turki’s post about Benavidez is him realizing that a fight between him and Crawford would sell on PPV.

‘BoMac’ is likely hoping that Turki Alalshikh will offer Crawford a rematch with Canelo (63-3-2, 39 KOs), inactive Jermall Charlo, or a fight against the #1 WBC 168-lb contender Hamzah Sheeraz. Those would be huge paydays for Crawford and fights that he would have a good chance of winning.

Risky Fights For Bud

• Christian Mbilli
• Osleys Iglesias
• Diego Pacheco

“No, we ain’t doing that fight,” said trainer Brian ‘BoMac’ McIntyre to Fighthype when asked if Terence Crawford would agree to fight David Benavidez next.

No Vacating The Belts

“No, we’re not going to vacate the belts. We’re just going to sit where we need to sit for a minute, and then get back in the gym,” said BoMac.

Crawford may have to start vacating titles soon because Osleys Iglesias is already the IBF mandatory. If the IBF orders that fight, I don’t believe Terence would agree to face him. The southpaw Iglesias punches too hard and has the superior jab and reach to land from the outside.

BoMac Dismisses ‘Boots’ Ennis

“He don’t want that,” said ‘BoMac’ when asked if Crawford could fight Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis next. “He’s no Bud Crawford. Bringing in that was good for Canelo, but it didn’t do no good in the fight,” said McIntyre about Alvarez having brought Ennis in to help him prepare for Crawford.

That’s one way to avoid a risky opponent. Just say, “He don’t want that.” The truth is, Ennis does want to fight Crawford and will take that fight if it were offered.

Ennis’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has already said that they would fight Crawford. They want that fight and would jump at the chance of fighting him.

“If I were Terence Crawford, I’d already give up the belt. Because when we become mandatory, we’ll push for that fight, and he’ll have to vacate,” said Hearn to Ring Magazine about Ennis fighting in a WBA 154-lb title eliminator next against Uisma Lima on October 11, 2025.