The possible mega-fight between pound-for-pound stars Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford is a match that will generate a lot of interest from fans if the fight plays out in December as His Excellency Turki Alalshikh hopes.
What some fans aren’t considering is the size disapairity between the two. Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) started his career in the lower weight classes at 135, and he’s now heating to his fourth division at 154, which he has never fought at.
So for Crawford to get one fight in at 154 against WBA champion Israil Madrimov and then skip 160 without ever fighting there to go straight to 168, it could be a bridge too far.
We saw how Crawford looked uncomfortable with the power of Kell Brook, David Avanesyan, and Egidijus Kavaliauskas. It’s going to be much worse when/if he fights Canelo.
The thing is, we don’t know if Crawford will get that point because he might get taken out by Madrimov, who is a huge puncher, and more powerful than anyone Terence has fought before. Crawford has got to mix it up with that guy because fighting in a boring manner would hurt his chances of fighting Canelo.
The Size Factor
“You would think that’s the question mark that you have to bring in the conversation of the size disparity that surely stands out,” said analyst Paulie Malignaggi to the Probox TV YouTube channel about the size difference between four-belt super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford.
“Also, the fact that Crawford really hasn’t had these fights in the higher weight classes because of the size disparity, and yet Canelo is in a weight class that has a lot of talent already in it. Crawford-Canelo.”
The size difference is going to be a big problem for Crawford because he hasn’t been punched by the kind of shots that Canelo will be hitting him with. Here’s another problem: If Crawford bulks up, which he’ll have to, it’s going to slow him down and likely impact his stamina. A slower Crawford will be easier to hit, and that won’t be good for him getting nailed by Canelo all night.
“Why not make Crawford and Zurdo Ramirez. Why not? Why stop at super middleweight? Let’s go all the way up. He’s [Crawford] #1 pound-for-pound anyway,” said Malignaggi.
“You got Crawford jumping up three weight classes. He hasn’t fought in three of those weight classes. 154, 160, and 168. He’s got to go up three weight classes that he hasn’t touched yet,” said boxing expert Chris Algieri. “He’s going to be fighting at 154 this summer, but that’s a lot of weight.”
We don’t know what Crawford’s true rationale is for wanting to fight Canelo. Could it be that he’s just doing it for the paycheck, which is what many fans believe was Jermell Charlo’s reason for wanting to fight Canelo.
If it’s just money, Crawford may just put in a token effort, collect his big paycheck, and then head off into retirement. That’s why His Excellency and Canelo should insist that Crawford prove himself at 168 first to show that he’s serious and not just looking for the money.
Also, it’s about fairness. It’s not fair for all the contenders that working their backsides off trying to get a fight against Canelo only to see Crawford jump up three weight classes and get a title shot ahead of them. It’s not sporting. It’s celebrity-esque or business and makes a joke of the sport.
Crawford’s Gamble
“You have something to lose. You’re fighting a man who is substantially bigger than you in three weight classes above. You can always get hurt,” said Algieri about Crawford.
“Terence Crawford is fighting for his fourth weight division. If he stay undefeated and has the ability to unify 154, he’s going to retire the best fighter that ever lived.”
If Crawford loses, he’ll be fine because he’ll have made all that money, and that is what he appears to be interested in. He didn’t want to fight Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis because he brought nothing to the table in terms of money. Crawford is just in it for the money, so it doesn’t matter if he loses.
The money is thing, which is why he should be made to earn it by fighting these three guys to get his shot at Canelo.
- David Morrell
- David Benavidez
- Caleb Plant
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