The Implications of Terence Crawford’s Recent Performance on a Potential Canelo Alvarez Fight

BY BOXING HIT STAFF-

The recent performance of Terence Crawford against Ismail Madrimov has left promoter Oscar De La Hoya reconsidering his previous stance on whether Crawford could defeat unified super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez. Initially, De La Hoya believed that Crawford’s skill set would be too much for Canelo, even at the 168-pound weight class. However, after witnessing Crawford’s struggles against WBA junior middleweight champion Madrimov, De La Hoya now leans towards the opinion that Alvarez would have the upper hand due to his size and talent advantage.

Crawford’s bout with Madrimov highlighted various challenges he faced, such as coming off a year-long layoff, moving up in weight and age, and lacking experience against high-level opponents throughout his career. De La Hoya expressed his doubts about whether Crawford should continue pursuing a fight at 168 pounds with Canelo or if he should focus on competing against opponents closer to his natural weight class at 154 or 147 pounds.

At the age of 37 in September, Crawford has built his reputation by defeating a string of older and lesser fighters over the years. However, his lack of significant competition against top-tier opponents became evident as he struggled against Madrimov. De La Hoya pinpointed the trend of Crawford padding his resume against fighters who were past their prime or not considered elite, undermining the notion of his unbeatable skill set.

Some of the opponents Crawford has faced in recent years include Errol Spence post-car accident, a washed-up Shawn Porter at 34, fringe contender David Avanesyan, paper champion Jeff Horn, and a post-Golovkin knockout Kell Brook. This pattern raises questions about the level of competition Crawford has truly faced and whether his skills can translate against elite fighters.

De La Hoya emphasized the historical trend in boxing where the bigger and more skilled fighters tend to have an advantage over smaller opponents. He cited his personal experience with Manny Pacquiao, acknowledging that physical attributes and experience often play a significant role in determining the outcome of a fight. In the case of Canelo Alvarez versus Terence Crawford, De La Hoya believes that Canelo’s size and skill set would likely overpower Crawford in a potential matchup.

Despite the speculation surrounding a Canelo vs. Crawford showdown, the likelihood of the fight materializing hinges on financial considerations. Canelo’s requested $150 million purse poses a significant obstacle, particularly if the funding source, His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, is unwilling to meet this demand. De La Hoya expressed gratitude towards Turki for promoting high-quality boxing matches but recognized the challenges in organizing a bout with such astronomical financial requirements.

The recent revelations from Terence Crawford’s performance against Ismail Madrimov have raised doubts about his ability to outmatch Canelo Alvarez. De La Hoya’s shifting opinions and the scrutiny of Crawford’s past opponents underscore the complexity of matchmaking in boxing and the importance of considering size differentials and competition levels. While a Canelo vs. Crawford matchup remains a tantalizing prospect, various obstacles must be overcome before this encounter can become a reality.