Boxing great offers categorical take on Canelo vs Crawford outcome
Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez takes on Terence Crawford on Saturday, in an eagerly-anticipated matchup in Las Vegas.
The boxing world is buzzing ahead of Saturday night’s blockbuster showdown in Las Vegas. It’s the kind of fight that once seemed impossible - until Turki Al-Sheikh stepped in and made it happen. In a clash of titans, undisputed super middleweight champion Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez (63-2-2, 39 KOs) will defend his crown against undefeated pound-for-pound star Terence “Bud” Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs). And the hot topic? The weight difference.
Crawford is making a bold leap, moving up two full weight classes to challenge for all four of Canelo’s belts. It’s a massive jump that’s raised eyebrows across the boxing community. Naturally, Canelo enters as the favorite - he’s fighting in his natural division and brings years of experience at super middleweight. But Crawford’s elite skill set has many wondering if technique can trump size.
“If Canelo doesn’t knock out Crawford...”
Even legends are weighing in. Mike Tyson has voiced concerns about the weight disparity, while Mexican icon Julio César Chávez didn’t mince words: “With all due respect, if Canelo doesn’t knock out Crawford with this kind of advantage, then who is he going to knock out?” Chávez told Mexican media during a promotional event.
Can Canelo end KO drought?
Canelo, now 35, has faced criticism in recent years over his choice of opponents. Despite being a four-division world champion (junior middleweight, middleweight, super middleweight, and light heavyweight), some fans believe he’s past his prime. Of his 63 wins, 39 have come by knockout - but he hasn’t stopped an opponent since 2021, nearly four years ago.
Since then, Canelo has cruised to unanimous-decision victories, but the lack of knockouts has frustrated fans. His most recent bout, against William Scull, set an unwanted record: the fewest punches thrown in a fight since Compubox began tracking stats 40 years ago - just 445 combined punches.
In response, Canelo and his camp are promising fireworks. “We’re going to prove it with a KO on Saturday,” said trainer Eddy Reynoso. Canelo himself predicted a finish in the sixth or seventh round. The pressure is squarely on the Mexican superstar - he’s the natural super middleweight, the favorite, and the one expected to deliver.
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