In the world of boxing, the biggest names often clash not only in the ring but through words. One such ongoing debate has been the avoidance of a potential showdown between two of the sport’s finest: Terence Crawford and Saul “Canelo” Álvarez. Despite Crawford’s achievements, Canelo’s team has, for years, cited various reasons for avoiding a fight with the undefeated welterweight champion. However, Crawford has pointed out three particular fights that he believes disprove Canelo’s rationale for dodging him. In this article, we explore Crawford’s arguments and the implications for both boxers and their legacies.
Before diving into Terence Crawford’s perspective, it’s essential to acknowledge Canelo Álvarez’s standing in the boxing world. Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, Canelo has achieved legendary status due to his impressive career, which has seen him conquer multiple weight classes, from light middleweight to light heavyweight. His victories over the likes of Gennady Golovkin, Sergey Kovalev, and Daniel Jacobs have solidified his reputation as one of the best in modern boxing.
Yet, despite Canelo’s impressive record, there has been a lingering question about his reluctance to face Crawford, who many consider to be one of the pound-for-pound best fighters in the world. Crawford has remained largely unchallenged in the welterweight division, holding multiple world titles in different weight classes, including the WBO welterweight title.
Over the years, Canelo has given several reasons for not engaging in a bout with Crawford. One of the main justifications has been the weight difference. Canelo has moved up in weight, most recently fighting at light heavyweight, while Crawford has dominated at welterweight. In addition, Canelo’s camp has suggested that Crawford’s style, while effective, doesn’t present the kind of challenge that justifies a fight at this stage of his career.
For a while, these reasons appeared valid, with Canelo seemingly focused on other lucrative matchups. However, Crawford doesn’t buy into the reasoning. He argues that Canelo’s past fights disprove these supposed barriers.
Terence Crawford, never one to shy away from a challenge, believes that Canelo’s avoidance of him doesn’t hold up under scrutiny. Crawford points to three key fights in particular that show Canelo has fought in similar weight classes or against opponents who present similar challenges to what he might face against Crawford. Let’s take a closer look at these three fights.
One of the most significant fights of Canelo’s career came when he faced Sergey Kovalev for the WBO light heavyweight title in 2019. At the time, Kovalev was a dominant force at light heavyweight, known for his power and range. The fight, which took place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, was a monumental step up in weight for Canelo. He faced Kovalev, who outweighed him significantly and had the advantage of being accustomed to the light heavyweight division.
Despite this, Canelo went on to win the fight by knockout in the 11th round, making history as the first Mexican to win a world title at light heavyweight. The victory was impressive, but Crawford argues that the fight itself disproves the claims that Canelo cannot move down to welterweight or fight someone of Crawford’s caliber.
If Canelo could fight a bigger, stronger man like Kovalev in the light heavyweight division, why couldn’t he challenge a fighter in Crawford’s weight class? The argument goes that if Canelo was willing to take the risk with Kovalev, a fight with Crawford should be no different, especially given Crawford’s skills and finesse in the ring.
Another key example that Crawford points to is Canelo’s bout against Billy Joe Saunders in 2021. Saunders, who was the WBO super middleweight champion, was undefeated at the time of the fight. He was a slick, elusive fighter with excellent movement, much like Crawford, and many believed that Saunders’ style could pose problems for Canelo.
However, Canelo dismantled Saunders in the eighth round, stopping him with an eye injury that required surgery. The performance was another dominant one from Canelo, but it also raised questions for Crawford.
The Saunders fight demonstrated that Canelo is capable of dealing with a boxer who is elusive, fast, and a skilled technician—characteristics often associated with Crawford. Despite Saunders’ ability to box on the back foot and use movement to frustrate Canelo, the Mexican fighter was still able to get the job done. If Canelo could handle Saunders’ style, then surely Crawford, who is known for his versatility and adaptability, would not be a huge stretch for the champion.
The long-awaited trilogy between Canelo and Gennady Golovkin has been one of the most talked-about matchups in recent boxing history. Golovkin, a former middleweight champion, is known for his relentless pressure and knockout power. In their three meetings, Canelo went to war with Golovkin, with the first two fights ending in a controversial draw and a narrow victory for Canelo. Their third encounter in 2022 ended with Canelo securing a unanimous decision victory, cementing his legacy as the superior fighter.
While Golovkin is a different fighter compared to Crawford, the two share one significant trait: they are both pressure fighters who can take a punch and continue to press forward. The fight between Canelo and Golovkin was a true test of willpower, endurance, and skill.
If Canelo can face Golovkin, who is a hard-hitting pressure fighter, three times and win decisively, it should not be a stretch to believe that he could handle Crawford’s skills. Crawford is, after all, not known for being an aggressive, brawling fighter. His style is much more about precision, versatility, and intelligence, qualities that Canelo has already proven he can navigate. Thus, Crawford believes there is no valid reason why Canelo would avoid him after proving his ability to handle tough and skilled fighters.
The potential showdown between Canelo and Crawford has the potential to be one of the biggest in modern boxing. Both men are at the top of their respective games, and their clash would be a true test of skills, heart, and legacy. However, as time passes, the likelihood of this fight happening continues to diminish, and both boxers are at risk of missing out on solidifying their legacies further.
For Canelo, avoiding Crawford could mean that his resume remains incomplete. Despite his impressive career, not facing Crawford could leave a lingering question about who the true pound-for-pound king is. On the other hand, for Crawford, the fight represents an opportunity to not only cement his own legacy but to take down a boxer who many believe has avoided him for far too long.
Terence Crawford’s argument that Canelo has no legitimate reason for avoiding him holds significant weight when considering the three fights mentioned. If Canelo can move up in weight to face stronger opponents and overcome challenges posed by boxers who share similar qualities with Crawford, then there seems to be little justification for sidestepping a fight with the undefeated champion. While the issue is ultimately about strategy, timing, and legacy, it’s clear that the boxing world would be better off seeing these two world-class fighters share the ring.
Ultimately, only time will tell whether this highly anticipated matchup will come to fruition, but one thing is certain: boxing fans will continue to debate the possibility until it happens.