Promoter Eddie Hearn says he believes Canelo Alvarez isn’t interested in fighting Terence Crawford because there’s nothing to gain for him in that fight.
Hearn states that undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo (61-2-2, 39 KOs) won’t receive any credit if he’s victorious against Crawford, because the Nebraska native would be moving up from 147 to 168. He would be much bigger than Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs), who started his career at 135 and has never fought at 154, 160 or 168.
Hearn feels that Canelo isn’t interested in chasing a fighter like Crawford around the ring all night like he did in his fight against Jermell Charlo last September. He says Canelo enjoyed his last title defense against Jermell Charlo, as he came to fight, and was looking to mix it up.
Size Disparity a Key Factor
Hearn thinks Canelo could choose his fighter, WBA mandatory, Edgar Berlanga next for his title defense in September. Crawford still has a tough match against WBA junior middleweight champion Israil Madrimov he must win, and Hearn suspects could lost that fight on August 3rd.
“Not speaking on Canelo’s behalf because I don’t represent him, I don’t think he’s overly interested in the Terence Crawford fight, because I’m thinking he’ll be thinking, ‘I’m not going to get any credit for beating Terence Crawford,’” said Eddie Hearn the press, talking about his belief that Canelo Alvarez isn’t interested in fighting Terence Crawford.
“He’s a 147-pounder, who just moved to 154. You’re asking him to move to 168 and fight a guy [Canelo] that’s massively outsized him. Also, at this stage of Canelo Alvarez’s career, stylistically, I’m not sure he wants to fight a mover [Crawford] that he’s going to have to chase around the ring.
Canelo’s Disinterest in Crawford’s Fighting Style
“That was the case when he fought Charlo. I don’t think he enjoyed that fight. I think he enjoyed the Munguia fight because he was a young, big super middleweight coming to win. I think he would have the same kind of enjoyment out of an Edgar Berlanga fight, but money talks.
“The one thing about Saul Alvarez is he is all about the money, and what I love about him is he doesn’t try to hide it. He’s got the belts, he’s got the legacy. The only thing that is left to do is be in fights that motivate him and make him money,” said Hearn.
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