Promoter Oscar De La Hoya doubts Terence Crawford will have the ability to defeat unified tremendous middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez when he strikes up two divisions to problem him for his belts on September thirteenth. De La Hoya states {that a} “good little man” has “by no means beat a superb large man.”
(Credit score: Melanie Pizano/Matchroom)
Fighters who’ve crushed greater guys:
Sugar Ray Robinson
Roy Jones Jr.
Sugar Ray Leonard
Manny Pacquiao
Too Huge a Leap?
It’s powerful for Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) to perform that feat as a result of he’ll basically be shifting up three weight courses after a lackluster efficiency in his debut at 154 final August towards Israil Madrimov. That struggle was shut sufficient to be a draw, however the judges gave it to Crawford, and you’ll perceive why. He was the A-side.
Crawford’s reluctance to struggle at 160 or 168 to remain busy and show himself is another excuse he’s not going to beat Canelo. Terence clearly sparred with fighters in these weight courses and is aware of it will be a foul thought for him to compete towards a type of killers earlier than getting his large mega-million struggle towards Canelo.
“I’ve been on this recreation for such a very long time, and I prefer to say I’m a historian. There’s by no means been a superb little man that beats a superb large man. It hasn’t occurred,” mentioned Oscar De La Hoya to Fighthype when requested about his ideas on whether or not Terence Crawford can transfer up two weight courses to defeat Canelo Alvarez at tremendous middleweight.
“The exception is perhaps Pacquiao beating me, however that scenario was completely completely different. I used to be on the finish of my profession, I used to be a shot fighter, and Pacquiao was arising, and he beat me. However a superb little man, which is Crawford, has by no means beat a superb large man, which might be Canelo within the historical past of the game.”
Crawford’s Age
Clearly, quite a few fighters have moved up a number of divisions to defeat greater fighters previously. What makes Crawford’s process extra problematic for him is his superior age, inactivity, and lack of punching energy. Bud shall be 38 in September; he seems to be it. Furthermore, Crawford has solely been combating yearly since 2020 and shall be coming off a 13-month layoff.
A fighter can get away with that type of inactivity once they’re youthful or combating lesser opposition, however once they become old they usually transfer up and struggle somebody good, they lose. Possibly Crawford doesn’t care if he will get crushed. He’s been upfront about one of many the reason why he needs to struggle Alvarez so badly. It’s the cash.
The Nebraska native Crawford can’t make wherever close to the identical type of dough combating at 154, and a few guys in that weight class would knock chips off him. Guys like Bakhram Murtazaliev, Vergil Ortiz Jr., Sebastian Fundora, and Serhii Bohachuk would age Crawford. If he’s solely combating yearly, he’d by no means get round to struggle even half of these guys earlier than he’s crushed into retirement.
“If Crawford can do it, give this man the title of ‘the best ever.’ That’s most likely the motivation for Crawford and his coach. ‘Look, in the event you can beat Canelo, you may go down as one of many historic greatest fighters on the planet.’ That’s sufficient motivation for any fighter. I simply don’t see it as a fighter.
“Canelo is an enormous puncher. Yeah, he walks on quicksand, and that’s one factor that Crawford can use towards him. The stress of a heavier man. Canelo shall be 200 kilos up in that ring. So, it’s a troublesome struggle, however I give all of the credit score to Crawford if he pulls that one off,” mentioned De La Hoya.
Shopworn Canelo?
De La Hoya goes overboard with what Crawford would accomplish if he have been to beat the soon-to-be 35-year-old Canelo Alvarez. Terence wouldn’t be the “best ever” if he defeated Canelo as a result of the Mexican star has been fading for the final three years and hasn’t taken a troublesome struggle since 2022.
If Crawford beats this pale model of Canelo, he’d have solely crushed a shopworn man that might have doubtless misplaced many occasions if he’d fought the highest 168-pounders as an alternative of avoiding them. Canelo has swerved former tremendous middleweights David Benavidez and David Morrell, and he’s clearly avoiding the highest 168-lb contenders now.
A victory for Crawford towards Alvarez would solely show what educated boxing followers already know: Canelo is over the hill. That’s why he doesn’t need to struggle the true killers at 168 and why he prevented Benavidez and Morrell once they have been within the division.
Boxing Information 24 » Crawford’s Immense Job: Overcoming Dimension, Age, and Inactivity to Problem Canelo, De La Hoya Stays Uncertain
Final Up to date on 03/26/2025
