Canelo vs. Crawford struggle preview: Story of the tape, what’s at stake in historic match

One of many greatest superfights of the century will happen on Saturday in Las Vegas when Mexican icon Canelo Alvarez defends his undisputed tremendous middleweight championship in opposition to the unbeaten, four-division champion Terence Crawford. 

The struggle between two future Corridor of Famers, which is able to mark the primary fight sports activities occasion at Allegiant Stadium, doubles because the inaugural boxing struggle promoted by Dana White and UFC of their new cope with highly effective financier Turki Alalshikh and Saudi Arabia. The bout may even air free to subscribers on Netflix (9 p.m. ET), with out an added pay-per-view upcharge, which implies it might grow to be one of the crucial watched fights since 2024’s Jake Paul-Mike Tyson (65 million concurrent streams on Netflix) and 1978’s Muhammad Ali-Leon Spinks rematch (90 million viewers on ABC). 

Alvarez has not precisely made followers completely satisfied in the previous couple of years along with his alternative in opponents. The undisputed champ has confronted the likes of unknown John Ryder, former junior middleweight champion Jermell Charlo who moved up two weight courses, fellow countrymen Jaime Munguia, a reasonably undeserving Edgar Berlanga after which William Scull as a compulsory to earn his IBF title again that he was stripped of. Now, he appears to be incomes again some good will with taking over a fellow pound for pound nice, however Crawford can be transferring up (at the least) two divisions as properly. Nonetheless, the pictures from the faceoffs may inform a special story as Crawford has seemed as large, if not greater, than Alvarez all through the construct to the struggle.

Crawford, in the meantime, has loads of historical past at stake on Saturday. The native of Omaha, Nebraska, earned undisputed standing in two divisions — junior welterweight and welterweight — and boasts an unbelievable resume. His greatest win got here again in 2023 when he demolished fellow unbeaten Errol Spence Jr. to earn all 4 titles at 147 kilos in one of many greatest fights of the yr. Now, Crawford can grow to be the primary fighter to perform the feat in three divisions with a win on Saturday.

Let’s check out how these pound-for-pound greats match up on this 168-pound showdown.

Canelo vs. Crawford story of the tape

What’s at stake in Canelo vs. Crawford? 

The chance that Crawford has garnered for himself so as to add all 4 of Alvarez’s tremendous middleweight world titles offers him, primarily, an opportunity to double down on his personal legacy. Not solely is Crawford unbeaten and has received titles in 4 divisions, a daring transfer like this up an extra two weight courses in opposition to somebody as critically famend as Alvarez can be a legendary transfer akin to Roy Jones Jr. profitable a heavyweight title or Sugar Ray Leonard getting back from a virtually four-year retirement to seize the middleweight title in his debut in opposition to Marvin Hagler. 

If Crawford pulls this off, he might see himself included traditionally among the many pound-for-pound greatest within the sport’s historical past, which seems to be well worth the threat of placing his unbeaten file at stake in a matchup during which he’s giving freely a lot dimension, youth and energy to his equally nice opponent.

For Alvarez, whose 20-year profession and unbelievable 12-year run as a premier pay-per-view star has him on the verge of consideration as the best Mexican boxer in historical past, the stakes are extra about holding serve than including on. 

Certainly, Alvarez would profit from each the unbelievable purse (rumored to be between $100 and $150 million) and the chance to place Crawford’s identify and ideal file on his resume with a win. However on condition that Alvarez has been criticized for outright ducking unbeaten David Benavidez in recent times, defeating Crawford would forestall him from taking a high-profile loss in opposition to an older and smaller boxer that may very well be damaging, from a short-term degree, to his legacy. 

Crawford, who is barely rumored to be making $10 million for the struggle, might additionally propel himself even farther from a monetary standpoint, given the present local weather of Alalshikh overpaying for marquee fights, into as many superfights as “Bud” is keen to just accept earlier than retiring.

Who has the sting in Canelo vs. Crawford? 

1. Energy: No matter who specialists are selecting, most have maintained the identical working assertion when speaking about this struggle: “If anybody can do it, Crawford can.” And that seems to have the identical which means from the standpoint of whether or not Crawford’s punching energy might probably carry with him as much as 168 kilos. Crawford’s energy is not wherever close to Alvarez’s from the standpoint of one-punch knockout energy. However Crawford is each fast and pinpoint correct. He has additionally bulked up strategically over the previous two years from the top of his welterweight days for a struggle like this. Both manner, nonetheless, the sting nonetheless falls firmly in Alvarez’s favor. He is a murderous physique puncher and one of the crucial correct and environment friendly counterpunchers within the recreation. Alvarez additionally has a repute of throwing heavy punches purposely into the arms and shoulders of his opponents, not simply to trigger harm however to put on them down bodily. Crawford solely wins this struggle if he can stand up to Alvarez’s energy. And despite the fact that Alvarez hasn’t scored a stoppage win since 2021, the ability may be very a lot nonetheless there. Benefit: Alvarez

2. Velocity: With out query, that is the benefit that’s most essential to no matter sort of success Crawford can have. Because the uncommon boxer traditionally who’s simply as harmful from the orthodox and southpaw stance, Crawford’s footwork — even at this superior age — ought to be dramatically higher than Alvarez. Whereas Alvarez’s hand velocity remains to be robust, he is not on Crawford’s degree. And Crawford’s potential to leap out and in in opposition to his extra flat-footed opponent might grow to be the story of this struggle for so long as he can survive in punching vary. Benefit: Crawford

3. Protection: The subject of ring IQ would not come up sufficient when evaluating the defensive strengths of two elite fighters. Alvarez has been a P4P stalwart for almost a decade, has carried his personal strengths with him in transferring up a number of weight courses and has advanced his fashion to grow to be extra environment friendly alongside the best way. And despite the fact that Alvarez’s lone elite weak spot has lengthy been his gradual toes, he has completed an ideal job offsetting that with head and higher trunk motion to slickly keep away from photographs whereas staying straight within the pocket. That does not imply Alvarez would not get hit, nonetheless. And that is an enormous cause why the sting, on this case, has to go to Crawford, who simply may need the best ring IQ of any fighter within the recreation at the moment and stays one of many prime defensive fighters statistically (he is ranked eighth by CompuBox in fewest punches landed by his opponents per spherical). Crawford hardly ever offers an inch but all the time stays in place to take a mile. And a large a part of that’s due to his footwork and the way little injury he has taken over his profession. Benefit: Crawford

4. Method: Each of those boxers stay among the many highest P4P-ranked within the recreation at the moment regardless of their present ages due to how sharp, correct and considerate they each are as pure counterpunchers. From a head-to-head standpoint, nonetheless, it may be simpler to favor Crawford due to his potential to change stances and the marginally wider array of punches he has in his arsenal. However Alvarez is just no slouch on this division and his inherent energy benefit may simply degree the enjoying discipline from standpoint of general approach contemplating each are clever, environment friendly and extremely adaptive to their opponent’s fashion. To low cost Alvarez’s credentials on this space can be to overlook out on precisely what makes him nice. Benefit: Even

5. Intangibles: Because the naturally greater and sturdier fighter with a legendarily robust chin, it may be straightforward to sum up this class by declaring every little thing from Alvarez’s dimension and energy benefits to the truth that he is youthful and has been way more energetic than Crawford in recent times. However Alvarez can be in yr 20 of a professional profession that started as a youngster and is closing in on 70 whole rights. The true intangible between them may simply come all the way down to mindset and starvation. Sure, Alvarez can flip it on when he must, even when it has appeared that he has been coasting in recent times by taking over lesser competitors and permitting them to go the space. However a fast have a look at the reported monetary disparity between the 2 purses within the struggle and the truth that Crawford, who turns 38 in two weeks, remains to be making an attempt to show to his critics simply how nice he really is must be strongly factored in. Crawford would not simply carry a imply streak like no different within the recreation, he appears to thrive upon the thought of being doubted, which doubtless makes him essentially the most harmful opponent to problem Alvarez since Bivol outpointed him in 2022. In contrast to current Alvarez opponents, who appeared to transition to survival mode as quickly as they have been knocked down, Crawford is motivated to discover a technique to win regardless of the circumstances. He is an actual canine, in each sense of the time period. Benefit: Crawford 

Who wins Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford and which technique of victory prop might deliver a large return? Be a part of SportsLine right here to see which bets it’s worthwhile to make for the struggle, all from the achieved veteran fight sports activities analyst who has constantly delivered winners.