The boxing world has been abuzz with talk of a potential showdown between Terence Crawford and Canelo Alvarez, two of the sport’s biggest stars. While the prospect of this mega-fight has many fans excited, several boxing professionals have voiced strong concerns about Crawford stepping into the ring with Canelo, warning him that this could be a dangerous move for his career.
Canelo Alvarez, widely regarded as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, has dominated the super middleweight division for years. He’s known for his power, resilience, and experience at higher weight classes. Meanwhile, Terence Crawford, a former undisputed welterweight champion, has been an unstoppable force at 147 lbs. Recently, Crawford has expressed interest in moving up to challenge Canelo at 168 lbs. However, this ambitious leap has raised alarm bells among many in the boxing community.
One of the biggest concerns with this potential fight is the significant size and power difference between the two fighters. Canelo has fought most of his career at 154 lbs and above, including dominating the 168 lb division. His punching power, ability to absorb punches, and size advantage over Crawford are seen as overwhelming by many experts.
Oscar De La Hoya, a former world champion and promoter, has voiced his opinion on the matter, stating that the fight would be a “no contest.” De La Hoya believes that the size and strength disparity would give Canelo a clear advantage. He argued that “a smaller good guy has never beaten a bigger good guy in boxing” and that Crawford would face an uphill battle against the larger and stronger Canelo. While Crawford is known for his technical prowess, De La Hoya believes Canelo’s natural power at 168 lbs would be too much for the smaller fighter.
While Crawford’s boxing IQ and ability to switch between orthodox and southpaw stances have made him a fearsome opponent at welterweight, boxing pros warn that these advantages may not be enough to overcome the challenges posed by Canelo’s physicality. Crawford has struggled in the past when moving up weight classes, as evidenced by his recent performances at 154 lbs. Some believe that Crawford’s punching power does not carry over as effectively to higher weight classes, making him vulnerable against a fighter of Canelo’s caliber.
David Benavidez, a top contender at 168 lbs, shared his thoughts on Crawford’s potential move up to fight Canelo. While acknowledging Crawford’s technical brilliance, Benavidez expressed doubts about Crawford’s ability to handle the size and power of Canelo. “Crawford is one of the best technical fighters I’ve ever seen, but he’ll have to move up two or three weight classes to fight Canelo. Weight classes are real, and Canelo is just too big for him,” said Benavidez. He went on to say that Canelo’s power, coupled with his ring intelligence, would likely overpower Crawford.
Another concern voiced by boxing professionals is the potential for Crawford to suffer a career-altering defeat if he faces Canelo. A loss to Canelo could significantly damage Crawford’s reputation, especially considering the size disparity and the risk of being overwhelmed by the Mexican champion’s power. Boxing analyst Tim Bradley Jr. also warned that Crawford could be setting himself up for failure, given Canelo’s track record of beating elite fighters like Gennady Golovkin and Caleb Plant at super middleweight.
Bradley, who has always been a vocal supporter of Crawford, emphasized the difficulty of a fight with Canelo, noting that Crawford’s best strategy might not be enough against the power and size that Canelo brings. “Crawford is an exceptional fighter, but I just think Canelo’s size and strength would be too much for him,” Bradley said. “Crawford would have to outbox him from a distance, but Canelo knows how to use his size to land devastating punches.”
Despite the warnings from industry professionals, Crawford remains determined to challenge Canelo. Crawford’s desire to test himself at a higher weight class and take on the best in the sport is well-known, and his pursuit of greatness is part of what makes him such a compelling figure in boxing. However, with a fight against Canelo looking increasingly dangerous, Crawford will need to carefully weigh his options.
While the prospect of Terence Crawford fighting Canelo Alvarez excites many boxing fans, professionals in the sport have strongly warned against such a move. The size and power disparity between the two fighters presents a significant challenge for Crawford, and many believe that the risks of a loss could outweigh the potential rewards. While Crawford’s technical abilities are unquestioned, he would be entering uncharted territory against a fighter of Canelo’s caliber. It remains to be seen whether Crawford will heed the advice of boxing experts or press ahead with his ambitious pursuit of a super middleweight title shot. Whatever the outcome, this potential clash will continue to captivate the boxing world.
