Terence Crawford has options. The 37-year-old is still enjoying his victory lap after skilfully outpointing Canelo Alvarez on September 13 to become the undisputed super middleweight champion. If fans couldn't get into Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, they simply streamed the event on Netflix. When they did, some were shellshocked over what took place. Despite moving up two weight classes, Crawford (42-0, 31 KOs) had little trouble faring against a larger opponent used to the 168-pound limit. He boxed when needed and banged when given no other option, resulting in a 12-round unanimous decision.

Crawford hasn't clarified his future plans, but the five-division world champion did say in the aftermath that he may be willing to move down to 160-pounds. News of Crawford possibly infiltrating the middleweight division might be nerve-racking to some contenders, but was music to the ears of unified champion Janibek Alimkhanuly. "If Crawford agreed to fight me, I would gladly face him," Alimkhanuly wrote on his X account. Fighting Crawford would be a huge step up from the WBO and IBF world champion's usual opposition. Although the 32-year-old has beaten three consecutive undefeated fighters, all by stoppage, none have been well-known. His preference has long been to unify titles in the weight class before moving up, having repeatedly called out Carlos Adames, the division's WBC beltholder. While negotiations fell through previously to match them, the nine-year pro hopes either Adames or WBA titlist Erislandy Lara (31-3-3, 19 KOs) decides to take him up on his offer before much longer.

If not, his attention would turn toward Crawford. Fans don't have much say in who Alimkhanuly (17-0, 12 KOs) faces next, but from his perspective, they should be rooting for them to get it on. “Our fight would be the kind of match every fan would watch with excitement,” said the Kazakhstan native. “They would not want to miss a single second.”