The Mexican Weekend Independence Day has always been one of the saints of boxing battles. Julio César Chávez, Oscar de la Hoya, Floyd Mayweather – everyone used the holiday to strengthen their names. Now is the turn of Canelo Alvarez, carrying the Mexico flag to Las Vegas for another spectacle size of the stadium.
This time the opponent is not a faded name or a local rival. This is Terenka “Bud” Crawford – 41 wins, without paralysis and willingness to prosecute the danger from a slight weight to a super medium weight. On Saturday evening at the Allegian stadium, live in Netflix (21:00 et), Canelo sets each lane on 168 on the line against the former two -part unquestioned king. Two pounds for pounds dividing one ring-rose territory in today’s broken boxing world.
Why Crawford, not Benavidez?
The truth is icy: the options worked lean, and Saudi money drowned out. After his unsuccessful gambling from 2022 against Dmitry Bivol, the recent Canelo race seemed more like risk management than conquering Golovkin, withdrawing the smaller Jermella Charlo and passing through Ryder, Mungui, Berlanga and Scull.
Fans demanded Benavidez. Instead, Alalshikh hanged four fights with a value of $ 400 million. Suddenly Crawford, once rejected as “too tiny”, became profitable. Canelo confessed to this: “If the money is right, why not at the moment in my career.”
Can Crawford cope with a jump?
Crawford does not test water. He immediately put down Errola Spence at the age of 147 and gave Israil Madrimov at 154 to stare at the master in 168.
He once admitted that Canelo was never on his radar because of the gap of size. But the heritage pierces comfort. He could defend himself against Jaron Ennis or immaculate the younger medium weight. Instead, he chose a larger prize: a chance to become the first man from the era of four stripes with unquestioned men in three divisions.
The risk is wild. Losing, and not only “0” disappeared-this is his aura as the three highest pounds per pound.
Chances, styles and chessme
According to ESPN, Bukmakers Lean Canelo in -175, with Crawford +140. The size of the size was baked. Alvarez was not weaker since his second fight with Golovkin.
No man throws the volume. Expect measured exchanges. Canelo plan: exert a constant pressure, exchange of forces on its terms, the 168 pounds leaning for each clinch. Crawford’s answer: switch the attitude, employ angles, repelling errors and let his armor be.
Canelo fights while racing. Crawford suffers if he is settled. Whoever controls geography, controls the fight.
How can this develop?
Don’t expect Slugfest. Canelo will try to snail-paced down the pace, keep things in medium -reach and slim bulky in clinchs. Crawford will try to frustrate movement, choose its places and punish excessive implementation.
If Canelo Wybrzeże, Crawford has tools to punish it. If Crawford hesitate in front of the lines, Canelo will fit him. Either way, results cards can become disordered.
Is this largest boxing night from Mayweather-Pacquiao?
Not commercially. Mayweather-Pacquiao in 2015 is still governing 4.6 million purchases, and Mayweather-Mcregor attracted even more cases. But inside the ring? This can provide more. Pacquiao was faded until 2015. McGregor was a tourist. Crawford is neither.
The turnout tells the story. In 1982, in 1982, almost 65,000 tickets were sold, doubled the elderly Vegas record from Holmes-Cooney. Add Netflix Streaming, and this can reset the sport distribution model.
What really is threatened to the pound for a pound?
If Canelo wins, he cemented in 168, but Usyk or Inoue does not jump. Defeating a smaller man does not crowns his king.
If Crawford wins, history was prescribed. Three unquestionable rule in three divisions. It has never been done. As Crawford put it: “My appetite on adversity is what drives me. That’s why I took this fight.”
Undercard Notes
Christian Milli versus Lester Martinez – Both unbeatable, both punchers. Mbilli is No. 2 ESPN in 168 and chasing the title.
Callum Walsh vs Fernando Vargas Jr. – Walsh has UFC support by Dan White, Vargas Jr. has a surname. Less about lanes, more about the praise of rights.
Ivan Dychko vs Jermaine Franklin – Battle in bulky weight, which can shake the rankings.
Plus Apenses from Steven Nelson, Mohammed Alakel, Reitto Tsutsumi, Marco Verde Alvarez and Sultan Almohamed.
Stadium pressure: Canelo Advantage Canelo
Canelo did it earlier – the AT & T stadium against Liam Smith, Saunders in the fight in 2021, Ryder in Guadalajara. Tens of thousands do not snail-paced it down.
For Crawford, the allegiant will be his first stadium fight. Size, noise, spectacle – regardless of whether it is sanctantly or driven, they are unknown.
This fight is not just pride – it’s a business. Netflix is entering the PPV market. Alalshikh transforms the basis for feeding boxing with Saudi support. Fighters like Canelo chas the sovereign wealth over sanctioning bodies.
If this experiment works, expect more mega struggle built on streaming giants and Saudi bankrolles.
My conversation – Crawford vs. Canelo
Canelo has recently avoided real danger. Crawford is looking for it.
If Canelo enforces discipline, she wins points. But Crawford is a type to tear the script. He is smaller, but sharper, hungry and willing to risk everything.
My Lean: Crawford according to a close, controversial decision.
Canelo Alvarez vs Terenca Crawford – unquestionable medium superpower championship
Christian Milli vs. Lester Martinez – super average weight
Callum Walsh vs Fernando Vargas Jr. – junior average weight
Ivan Dychko vs Jermaine Franklin – bulky weight
Steven Nelson vs Raiko Santana – lightweight
Mohammed Alakel vs Travis Kent Crawford – welterweight
Reit Tsutsumi vs Javier Martinez – Bantamweight
Marco Verde Alvarez versus Sona Akale – airy
Sultan Almhamed vs Martin Caraballo – featherweight
Amy Kaplan is a box of boxing since she was 10 years elderly, which means that she spent most of her life, explaining to people that yes, they really prefer nights of fighting at parties. Now, writing to Boxing News 24, it covers everything from the fight for the title of world champion to perspectives swinging as at the day of payment. It combines acute analysis with sarcasm, calling for boxing policy and crossing the spin with the release of the press to give fans stories that actually matter.
Terence Crawford faced and defeated 42 different opponents during a 17-year career, but super-middleweight icon Carl Froch believes that there is one welterweight who would have put an end to Crawford’s unbeaten streak if they were to meet in their primes.
Crawford became the first post-war boxer to claim the undisputed title in three separate weight divisions last September; a run which began as a super-lightweight in 2015 by defeating Thomas Dulorme, then unifying against Viktor Postol before halting Julius Indongo in an undisputed title showdown.
‘Bud’ then moved on to the welterweight scene and knocked out Jeff Horn to capture the WBO world title on his 147lb debut, making five defences of the title before colliding with fierce rival and three-belt unified titleholder, Errol Spence Jr, in 2023.
In a unforgettable fight, Crawford brutally beat Spence down in an authoritative ninth-round stoppage win to capture the undisputed welterweight throne. Talk then turned to an unprecedented three-weight move up to super-middleweight to take on Canelo Alvarez.
After stopping off at super-welterweight to dethrone Israil Madrimov on his way up, Crawford debuted at super-middleweight in a challenge for Canelo’s undisputed crown and outboxed the Mexican superstar in an iconic win last year, hanging up the gloves three months later.
Despite those legendary achievements, Froch picked Floyd Mayweather Jr to come out on top in a potential fantasy fight against the Omaha southpaw, in an episode of ‘Froch on Fighting’.
Mayweather’s achievements speak for themselves, retiring with a perfect 50-0 unbeaten record after claiming world honours in five divisions, with his most impressive reign coming at 147lbs, where he defeated the likes of Manny Pacquiao and Shane Mosley.
Mayweather has been rumoured to make a comeback, but while there would be huge finances that would be on offer, Crawford has revealed that he would have no interest in ending his retirement for a bout with ‘TBE’, believing that the 49-year-old is ‘old’ and ‘done’.
Terence Crawford has been hailed by many as the best fighter of this generation following his retirement, and now WBC welterweight title hopeful Conor Benn has shared how he thinks ‘Bud’ would have fared against six-division world champion Oscar De La Hoya.
Crawford became boxing’s sixth five-division world champion with an iconic win over Canelo Alvarez back in September; joining Thomas Hearns, Sugar Ray Leonard, De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao in that elite and exclusive club reserved only for legends of the sport.
Of that group, only De La Hoya and Pacquiao have gone on to conquer a sixth division, with De La Hoya’s 2004 WBO middleweight world title win over Felix Sturm seeing the Californian become the first boxer to ever become a sextuple champion.
Crawford could have joined ‘’The Golden Boy’ and ‘Pac-Man’ in achieving that feat, having been offered a middleweight world title shot during the aftermath of his triumph over Canelo late last year – a proposal which later fell apart due to a failed doping test by Janibek Alimkhanuly.
Continuing the praise that the Omaha-born southpaw has received since announcing his retirement last December, Benn told Daily Mail Boxing that he would favour the undefeated star to get the better of De La Hoya, if they were to meet in their primes.
Benn also went on to predict that Crawford would retain his unbeaten streak against other greats of the game, picking him to come out on top against each of Mayweather, Julio Cesar Chavez, Pernell Whitaker and Roberto Duran.
Top trainer and former world champion Robert Garcia has considered the outcome of a fantasy showdown between Terence Crawford and Manny Pacquiao.
The two generational greats reportedly came close to squaring off in 2021, back when Crawford was the WBO welterweight champion and ‘Pac Man’ held the WBA title.
Their unification match never materialised, though, as Pacquiao was scheduled to face Errol Spence Jr before ‘The Truth’ pulled out with a torn retina.
Instead, the Filipino legend ended up losing his WBA title to Yordenis Ugas at a stage when, while still serviceable, he was quite clearly past his best.
Crawford, meanwhile, was hitting top form around this time, just a few fights away from producing arguably a career-best performance against Spence.
He did, of course, manage to stop his welterweight rival in nine rounds, before moving up to 168lbs and becoming a three-division undisputed champion by dethroning Canelo Alvarez last September.
Based on those two performances, coach Garcia has told ESNEWS that he would favour ‘Bud’ to defeat even a prime version of Pacquiao.
“The Crawford that beat Spence – and the Crawford that beat Canelo – would probably beat Manny.”
While Crawford’s prime almost certainly came during his run of eight stoppages at welterweight, it is harder to pinpoint when Pacquiao ultimately reached his peak.
In terms of his most destructive performance at world level, however, many will point towards his second-round finish over Ricky Hatton in 2009.
While facing the ‘Hitman’ at 140lbs, Pacquiao would cement himself as a formidable welterweight champion soon after, dethroning Miguel Cotto with a 12th-round stoppage for the WBO title.
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