He gave Canelo a run for his money - and this is his advice to Terence Crawford
Erislandy Lara, who gave Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez one of the toughest bouts of his career, has discussed how Crawford can beat the Mexican.
Eleven years ago, Cuban boxer Erislandy Lara gave Mexican superstar Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez one of the toughest fights of his career. To this day, Lara remains convinced he deserved the win. Despite his performance, it was Canelo’s hand that the judge raised in victory.
It’s a bout neither fighter has forgotten. Throughout the match, Lara repeatedly put Canelo on the ropes, showcasing slick movement and sharp counters. A rematch now seems out of reach, but Lara hasn’t let go of the lessons from that night - and he’s passing them on to Terence Crawford, who is to take on Álvarez in Las Vegas on September 13.
Lara: Crawford must stay on the move against Canelo
In a recent interview with Fighthype, Lara didn’t hesitate to say, “Crawford can beat Canelo.” But he didn’t stop at a prediction - he laid out a blueprint for how the American can tilt the fight in his favor.
“He has to move,” Lara explained. “He has to use his legs, get in and out, and not let Canelo land shots on his arms. If he does that, he’s got a great chance. I want to see how Crawford handles Canelo’s power, especially in the early rounds. That could decide everything.”
Canelo “stronger than ever”
The Cuban didn’t just break down the strategy - he also issued a warning. Underestimating Canelo’s power, he said, could be a costly mistake.
“Canelo is strong - stronger than ever. You can’t overlook that. If Crawford stays disciplined, he could really shake things up,” Lara added.
July 12, 2014, remains etched in the memories of both Lara and Canelo. Lara came close to dropping the Mexican icon that night, and while he didn’t walk away with the win, he knows exactly how to hurt him.
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