Angel Reese Spotted in Terence Crawford Locker Room Before Canelo Fight, Draws Social Media Mockery
Chicago Sky forward briefly greeted Crawford at Allegiant Stadium; fans on X suggested the visit could be a distraction ahead of a high-stakes bout
Angel Reese, the Chicago Sky forward, was filmed entering Terence Crawford’s dressing room at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas shortly before Crawford’s title fight against Canelo Alvarez on Saturday, prompting a wave of online commentary.
Video and photos posted on social media showed Reese, wearing a black bodysuit, bright orange bag, sunglasses and heeled black boots, shake hands with Crawford. The 6-foot-3 Crawford stooped down to embrace Reese, who is listed at 5-foot-8, and Reese introduced him to a companion she had brought with her. Reese is a second-year WNBA player and a college national champion.
The footage drew criticism and jokes from boxing fans on X, with several users suggesting the visit was an ill-timed distraction ahead of one of the year’s most anticipated fights. "Nothing against Angel nor her homegirl, but it's time to lock tf in! No more handshakes and hugs LFG Bud!" one user wrote. Another posted, "He's losing for sure... it's an omen!!!" A different user wrote, "Canelo sent her in there as a distraction for sure," while another said, "An attention seeking non-winning WNBA player in Bud's locker room. That's a bad sign right there."
The Crawford-Alvarez bout carried significant stakes: the winner stood to claim up to six super middleweight title belts. Alvarez entered the fight as the betting favorite, with FanDuel listing Canelo at -180.
Reese’s presence in the fighters’ area is not unusual in its substance—celebrity appearances and cross-sport interactions are common at major boxing events—but the timing and footage of the exchange produced an amplified reaction online because of the match's profile and the intense fan interest surrounding both fighters.
Crawford and Alvarez have been among the most prominent names in boxing, and their matchup attracted attention from across sports media and betting markets. Officials and event organizers typically restrict access to fighters' dressing rooms in the lead-up to a bout; the details surrounding who accompanied Reese and how long the exchange lasted were not immediately available.
Neither Crawford’s camp nor Reese issued public comments about the meeting in the immediate aftermath. The fight proceeded as scheduled at Allegiant Stadium, where both camps and the boxing world awaited the ring action that would decide the next holder of the super middleweight titles.