NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 22: (L-R) Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford onstage during Fanatics Fest NYC 2025 at Javits Center on June 22, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)
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There are only so many fights big enough to carry an event with minimal undercard resistance—and September 13’s clash between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford is absolutely one of them. Still, a stacked lineup helps cushion the impact of a one-sided main event, especially on a historic night like this.
Set for Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas and streaming exclusively on Netflix, the undercard is beginning to take shape. On Monday, Zuffa Boxing confirmed three preliminary showdowns—two with some intrigue and one that features a very young Saudi fighter with serious star potential in a developmental fight.
Callum Walsh (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
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First: in what’s looking like the co-main bout, Ireland’s 24-year-old Callum Walsh (14‑0, 11 KOs) squares off against the powerful, unbeaten Fernando Vargas Jr. (17‑0, 15 KOs). Walsh—long mentored by UFC’s Dana White and built up through UFC Fight Pass—finally gets a moment to shine on a major stage.
Vargas Jr., son of a former world champ, brings name recognition and family legacy into play. This one’s potential fireworks before and during the main event.
In a rare battle between undefeated super welterweights, Ireland’s 24-year-0ld undefeated rising star Callum Walsh (14-0, 11 KO) takes on second-generation KO artist and fellow undefeated standout, Fernando Vargas Jr (17-0, 15 KO).
If Walsh wins–especially spectacularly–he’ll be one of the hottest fighters in the red-hot weight class. If Vargas wins, it’ll be an upset as Walsh figures to be a noticeable favorite by the time fight week rolls around.
France’s Christian Mbilli (L) celebrates his victory over unseen Poland’s Maciej Sulecki during their WBC Interim Super Middleweight title bout at the Videotron Centre in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, on June 27, 2025. (Photo by ANDREJ IVANOV / AFP) (Photo by ANDREJ IVANOV/AFP via Getty Images)
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Turning the dial up another notch from an established contender standpoint: WBC interim super‑middleweight champ Christian Mbilli (29‑0, 24 KOs) defends his belt against undefeated Lester Martinez (19‑0, 16 KOs).
Mbilli is widely viewed as the No. 1 contender behind Canelo and has been on a tear—most recently snatching the interim title via first-round knockout over Maciej Sulecki. A win here likely positions him as the next challenger to the super‑middleweight throne, but as we know, things can get complicated at the top of a division with megastars like Canelo and Crawford.
Martinez, ranked in the top 10 across major boxing bodies, is no pushover—though he’s had health hurdles, including recent withdrawals due to migraines. Still, he’s poised for a breakout if he stays sharp.
Finishing things off is a lightweight clash between Mohammed Alakel (4‑0) and John Ornelas (5‑2‑1). Neither fighter is well known abroad, but Alakel is arguably the brightest hope on the Saudi boxing scene and he appears to be one of Turki Alalshikh’s favorites.
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – FEBRUARY 17: Mohammed Alakel poses for a portrait ahead of the Super Featherweight fight between Mohammed Alakel and Engel Gomez as part of Beterbeiv v Bivol 2: The Last Crescendo during a media day portrait session at Movenpick Hotel and Residences Riyadh on February 17, 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
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He’ll get every opportunity to succeed.
I’m not sure if any of these three fights would be considered a strong co-main event on other cards, but with Canelo vs. Crawford being such a major draw, there probably won’t be a ton of complaints.
That said, if the main event between the two future Hall-of-Famers doesn’t deliver from an action standpoint, fans will be happy they didn’t have to spend pay-per-view dollars.