By Jim Calfa: Terence Crawford is trying hard to build interest in the boxing public in a fight that he’s hoping to get next by telling fans that a match between him and Caneelo Alvarez is the “biggest” one in the sport.
Fighting Crawford gives Canelo another excuse to avoid David Benavidez & Dmitry Bivol, whom the fans want to see him fight.
Considering that Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) fights three divisions below the four-belt 168-lb champion Canelo (59-2-2, 39 KOs) and has never fought in that weight, it would be a business-level fight to make money for the Nebraska native before he soon retires.
It would give Crawford a nice nest egg to live in luxury if Canelo gave him a title shot at 168, which he hasn’t earned by not competing in the division.
The contenders at 168 probably won’t be too happy to see Canelo fighting another guy who doesn’t compete in the weight class because the Mexican star is already circumventing his mandatory David Benavidez to fight 154-lb fighter Jermell Charlo on September 30th.
If Canelo is permitted by the sanctioning bodies at 168 to fight at 147-lb fighter, it makes a joke out of the division. Obviously, it’s not good for the careers of the contenders who have been working hard, trying to get a title shot.
The 36-year-old Crawford has no intentions of staying at 168 to defend the undisputed super middleweight championship if he successfully defeats Canelo.
If Crawford we to stay at 168, he’d have vultures circling overheard, with David Benavidez & David Morrell Jr. coming for his scalp.
Whether Crawford is successful against the fading Canelo, those guys would have many problems if he doesn’t choose to vacate the four belts to avoid them quickly.
Crawford over Canelo
“I give Crawford all the credit in the world for even thinking of possibly fighting Canelo, but if that fight ever takes place, I have Crawford 1000%,” said Oscar De La Hoya to Fighthype. “People will say, ‘Oh, you’re contradicting yourself.’ I kind of am, but Crawford is also a big guy who can handle Canelo because they’re the same size.
@Canelo vs Crawford is definitely by far the biggest fight in boxing.
— Terence Crawford (@terencecrawford) August 29, 2023
“Crawford is a guy that punches hard, but he doesn’t rely on his power. He relies on his footwork, his speed, his changeups, his combinations, he relies on his mind, and I believe Crawford is a way better boxer than Canelo,” said De La Hoya.
Assuming Canelo defeats Jermell Charlo and agrees to fight Crawford next, can Terence handle the power of the Mexican star? Crawford could be slower at 168 and could be bothered by the power.
Canelo won’t be weight drained like Errol Spence Jr. was for his fight with Crawford, so that could decrease the chance of Terence winning.
Canelo beats Jermell
“Canelo will beat Charlo. He’s the stronger fighter. They’re both talented, but he’s a bigger fighter,” said De La Hoya, picking Canelo, whom he used to promote, to defeat Jermell Charlo on September 30th.
“In boxing, in the history of the sport, the talented fighter who is the bigger fighter always beats the talented small fighter. That’s just historically what’s taken place in boxing.
“People will say, ‘Oh, didn’t Pacquiao beat you?’ I was already a dead man walking [weight drained] when I stepped up in the ring. So that doesn’t really count, but I think Charlo is going to have a great fight; I think Charlo is going to have a great performance, but I think the weight. Jumping up two weight classes, it’s a lot.
“When you’re facing Canelo when he keeps on pressuring you, I think he may even stop him in the later rounds,” said De La Hoya.
