This weekend's highly anticipated showdown between Terence "Bud" Crawford and Saul "Canelo" Alvarez promises to be one of the most significant boxing matches of 2025. The fight, taking place in Las Vegas, features all the super middleweight belts at stake, captivating fight fans worldwide.
Crawford, a 38-year-old boxing prodigy with an undefeated 41-0 record (31 KOs), has long been lauded for his technical brilliance. His July 2023 victory over Errol Spence for the undisputed welterweight title solidified his place among boxing's elite. This masterful performance showcased Crawford's superior speed, power, defense, and counterpunching abilities, leaving Spence, a previously undefeated champion, visibly outclassed.
However, Crawford's subsequent inactivity and a less-than-stellar performance against Israil Madrimov in August 2024 raised some questions. Despite winning the WBO super welterweight title, his victory lacked the usual dominance, prompting his bold decision to move up two weight classes to challenge Canelo.
Canelo Alvarez, a global boxing icon and arguably the biggest draw since Floyd Mayweather's retirement, boasts a formidable record of 63-2-2 (39 KOs). His extensive career, spanning from 2005, includes a significant loss to Mayweather, and a more recent wake-up call against Dmitrii Bivol in a light heavyweight bout. This loss highlighted the impact of size in boxing, prompting Canelo to return to the super middleweight division, where he secured a decisive victory over Gennadiy Golovkin.
Canelo's recent fight against William Scull showcased a strategic, almost defensive approach, fueling speculation about his strategy heading into the Crawford fight. The immense financial stakes, including Canelo's recent $400 million deal with Riyadh Season promoter Turki Al-Sheikh, add another layer of intrigue.
This fight is more than just a title match; it's a test of the age-old adage, "Good big man beats good little man." Crawford's victory would be a monumental upset, potentially revolutionizing how we view weight classes in boxing. While pundits like Tim Bradley offer Crawford a fighting chance, drawing parallels to Sugar Ray Leonard's stunning victory over Marvin Hagler, the size difference remains a significant challenge. Crawford's remarkable speed and precision versus Canelo's power and experience promise a captivating spectacle, leaving boxing fans eagerly anticipating the opening bell.
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Originally published at: https://defector.com/canelo-alvarez-stands-between-terence-crawford-and-boxing-immortality
