Khabib vs Conor Surpassed? Legendary Announcer Makes Admission About Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford

UFC commentator Jon Anik compares Terence Crawford vs. Canelo Alvarez to Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor.

Khabib vs Conor Surpassed? Legendary Announcer Makes Admission About Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford

Jon Anik prefers Terence Crawford vs. Canelo Alvarez more than Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Conor McGregor (via MMA FightingX)

🔍 Explore this post with:

ChatGPTPerplexityGrok AIGoogle AI

Last weekend, combat sports fans experienced the much-anticipated boxing bout between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford, generating immense excitement. The event was the inaugural boxing showcase for UFC CEO Dana White‘s TKO Boxing, successfully attracting many MMA fans to watch.

The collaborating event was covered by the legendary Jon Anik, who enjoyed an incredible night, arguably the best in his professional career. Anik has been a longtime UFC commentator, and fans greatly appreciate his insights and contributions during major pay-per-view events worldwide.

Jon Anik was also part of the UFC’s biggest PPV fight, featuring Conor McGregor versus Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229.  During a recent podcast with fellow announcer Bruce Buffer, Anik compared both major events, placing Terence Crawford versus Canelo Alvarez above McGregor versus Nurmagomedov. 

Well, it did feel like the biggest live sporting event I had ever called, with Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov right below it. The only reason I say that is because, like Buff said, 70,000 strong, it’s hard to put a comp on that…I felt absolutely massive, and the stakes were just insane, and the legacy for these two athletes. It was nuts. 

Jon Anik via YouTube 

The Crawford versus Alvarez fight was hosted at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, which attracted a record-breaking crowd of 70,482 spectators. The event generated over $47 million in live gate revenue, surpassing previous attendance records and remarkable new venue milestone. The fight was broadcast on Netflix, drawing an impressive 41.4 million viewers, with a peak of 24 million concurrent streams.

It became the most-watched men’s championship boxing match of the 21st century, ranking as Netflix’s top program in 30 countries. Crawford secured a unanimous decision victory over Alvarez, becoming the first male undisputed three-division champion in modern boxing history. The fighters earned a combined total of approximately $200 million, nearly matching the entire UFC roster’s earnings for 2025.

On the other hand, McGregor vs. Nurmagomedov was the biggest UFC event, generating over $180 million in pay-per-view sales. It attracted 20,034 spectators, generating a record-breaking $17.2 million gate, which was the highest in UFC’s events in Las Vegas. In comparison, it falls short against Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford, the controversy and rivalry were much more intense at UFC 229.

Could Terence Crawford vs. Conor McGregor become the biggest crossover bout in history?

The second most successful combat sports event was the crossover spectacle between Conor McGregor and undefeated Floyd Mayweather in 2017. That fight generated over 4.3 million pay-per-views, produced more than $600 million in revenue, and created one of boxing’s highest-grossing nights.

Conor McGregor vs. Terence Crawford possibility
Conor McGregor vs. Terence Crawford possibility (via X)

Since then, Conor McGregor has maintained his reputation as one of combat sports’ biggest global draws, transcending both MMA and boxing. In hopes of recreating similar success, UFC lightweight champion Ilia Topuria recently called out Terence Crawford for a crossover bout.

However, Terence Crawford dismissed the possibility by stating that the ‘El Matador’ has not reached McGregor’s global superstardom or financial level. Interestingly, last year, McGregor reportedly offered ‘Bud’ an opportunity worth $200 million for both boxing and MMA clashes across two events.

Terence Crawford respectfully declined the lucrative proposal, emphasizing he had no desire whatsoever to step inside the dangerous MMA Octagon environment. ‘I’m not getting in no (expletive) octagon with (Conor) so you can be kicking and elbowing me…,” said Crawford.

However, following the Canelo Alvarez superfight, Terence Crawford has increased his stock and wants money fights, and McGregor could be a lucrative choice. The ‘Notorious’ hasn’t fought professionally in the last four years and is currently preparing for his much-anticipated UFC comeback.

Recently, the fighter confirmed taking part in the White House event along with old rival Michael Chandler. With only two fights in his UFC contract, fans can definitely see McGregor in boxing crossover bouts after that should a lucrative option comes on the table. 

Also Read: