The Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford broadcast line-up was revealed today for their fight on Netflix on September 13th at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. It’s a massive talent line-up for the event/fight, which Turki Alalshikh has labeled ‘The Fight of the Century.’
The Judges and the Referee
Thomas Taylor: Referee
Tim Cheatham: Judge
Steve Weisfield: Judge
Max Deluca: Judge
The Netflix Broadcast Team
Jon Anik: Play-by-play
Max Kellerman: Fight analyst
Andre Ward: Fight analyst
Michael Buffer: Ring Announcer
Joe Martinez: Ring Announcer
Heidi Androl: Reporter
Jim Gray: Reporter
Skipper Kelp: Coaches’ Corner
Mario Lopez: Desk Host
Mark Kriegel: Desk Analyst
Antonio Tarver: Desk Analyst
Mike Coppinger: Desk Analyst
“That’s a great fight on paper, but I just don’t know. Crawford has the better skillset, but those two weight classes are a lot,” said the well-respected, long-time trainer Jeff Mayweather in an exclusive interview with AB Boxing News, discussing the hurdle that Terence Crawford has in front of him, jumping up two divisions to challenge Canelo Alvarez for his super middleweight undisputed championship on September 13th.
The weight jump will be difficult for Crawford to adjust to, as he’s doing it all at once without taking any warm-up fights.
“That’s a real big factor, and that’s the weight class that Canelo is already owning. He owns the weight class [168], and he even went up higher [175]. So, he’s already proven what he can do. Crawford is going to be in a situation he’s never been in. Canelo has fought guys that aren’t as talented, but are pretty close in weight,” said Mayweather.
Weighing Crawford’s disadvantages
- Long layoff: 13 months
- Age: Turns 38 on September 28th
- Experience: Crawford has never fought at 168 or 160. He’s never been hit by a super middleweight.
- Lack of size: He’s fighting a bigger Canelo.
- Power: Alvarez is the bigger puncher.
Crawford has never moved up two weight classes at once before. It’s always been a gradual one division at a time approach. He’s got the weight he’s dealing with, and also his age. Crawford turns 38 on September 28, and he’s coming off a 13-month layoff. He’s bulked up for the fight, but there’s no way of knowing if his speed and stamina will be negatively impacted. Moreover, Terence didn’t take a tune-up.
The Money Behind the Fight
“There aren’t any guys that are as good as Crawford, though. You got to take your hat off for Crawford for taking the risk. It’s for the money, and everybody understands that,” said Mayweather.
Crawford’s decision not to move up to 168 to fight any of the top contenders first to earn the fight with Canelo supports Mayweather’s view that his purpose in taking this risk is “for the money.” It would be like a team going to the Super Bowl without entering the playoffs first. We have seen this kind of thing before, though.
Leonard vs. Hagler Revisited
Sugar Ray Leonard moved up two divisions from welterweight to challenge champion Marvin Hagler for his WBC, WBA, IBF, and The Ring middleweight titles on April 6, 1987, in the historic ‘Super Fight.’ Leonard defeated Hagler by a controversial 12-round split decision.
The difference in that fight and the Canelo-Crawford match is that Leonard was the far more popular fighter of the two. Crawford isn’t the popular fighter going up against Canelo. It’s a fight that Turki Alalshikh wanted, not one that the boxing public had been asking for. The fans wanted Canelo to fight David Benavidez.
“Getting in the ring with Canelo Alvarez, Terence isn’t going to see anything he hasn’t seen before,” said former welterweight champion Shawn Porter to HitmanSportsMedia channel.