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

One of many largest 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 battle 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 battle promoted by Dana White and UFC of their new take care of highly effective financier Turki Alalshikh and Saudi Arabia. The bout may also air free to subscribers on Netflix (9 p.m. ET), with out an added pay-per-view upcharge, which suggests it may change into some of the 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). 

Not solely will Crawford, who captured a 154-pound title in his debut final summer season, be shifting up an extra two weight divisions to problem Alvarez, he’ll look to change into the primary three-division undisputed champion of the four-belt period. 

Alvarez, in the meantime, will put his 11-0 report at 168 kilos on the road and can carry the stress that comes with being the larger man and slight betting favourite regardless of whispers lately from critics that he has misplaced his starvation to compete on the highest degree.

The undercard options some rising contenders and names to get extra accustomed to within the area. Callum Walsh has been pegged for greatness since he started his profession in Eire a couple of years in the past. Now, the rising Irish star will get a showcase alternative on a large stage when he takes on Fernando Vargas Jr. at junior middleweight. Plus, a possible future titleholder for Alvarez or Crawford to fret about is in a featured bout when interim WBC tremendous middleweight champion Christian M’billi takes on Lester Martinez.

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 lessons in opposition to somebody as critically famend as Alvarez could be a legendary transfer akin to Roy Jones Jr. successful a heavyweight title or Sugar Ray Leonard getting back from an almost four-year retirement to seize the middleweight title in his debut in opposition to Marvin Hagler. 

If Crawford pulls this off, he may see himself included traditionally among the many pound-for-pound greatest within the sport’s historical past, which seems to be definitely worth the threat of placing his unbeaten report at stake in a matchup wherein 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 report on his resume with a win. However provided that Alvarez has been criticized for outright ducking unbeaten David Benavidez lately, 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 battle, may 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 simply 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 battle: “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 may presumably 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 battle like this. Both manner, nevertheless, the sting nonetheless falls firmly in Alvarez’s favor. He is a murderous physique puncher and some of the correct and environment friendly counterpunchers within the sport. Alvarez additionally has a fame of throwing heavy punches purposely into the arms and shoulders of his opponents, not simply to trigger damage however to put on them down bodily. Crawford solely wins this battle if he can stand up to Alvarez’s energy. And regardless that Alvarez hasn’t scored a stoppage win since 2021, the facility 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 type 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 — must be dramatically higher than Alvarez. Whereas Alvarez’s hand pace continues to be sturdy, he is not on Crawford’s degree. And Crawford’s skill to leap out and in in opposition to his extra flat-footed opponent may change into the story of this battle 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 shifting up a number of weight lessons and has advanced his model to change into extra environment friendly alongside the best way. And regardless that Alvarez’s lone elite weak spot has lengthy been his gradual toes, he has completed a terrific job offsetting that with head and higher trunk motion to slickly keep away from photographs whereas staying instantly within the pocket. That does not imply Alvarez would not get hit, nevertheless. And that is a giant purpose why the sting, on this case, has to go to Crawford, who simply might need the best ring IQ of any fighter within the sport right this 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 not often offers an inch but at all times stays in place to take a mile. And a large a part of that’s due to his footwork and the way little harm he has taken over his profession. Benefit: Crawford

4. Approach: Each of those boxers stay among the many highest P4P-ranked within the sport right this 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, nevertheless, it is perhaps simpler to favor Crawford due to his skill 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 taking part in area from standpoint of total method contemplating each are clever, environment friendly and extremely adaptive to their opponent’s model. To low cost Alvarez’s credentials on this space could be to overlook out on precisely what makes him nice. Benefit: Even

5. Intangibles: Because the naturally larger and sturdier fighter with a legendarily sturdy chin, it is perhaps simple to sum up this class by mentioning the whole lot from Alvarez’s dimension and energy benefits to the truth that he is youthful and has been way more lively than Crawford lately. However Alvarez can also be in yr 20 of a professional profession that started as an adolescent and is closing in on 70 whole rights. The true intangible between them may simply come right down to mindset and starvation. Sure, Alvarez can flip it on when he must, even when it has appeared that he has been coasting lately 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 battle and the truth that Crawford, who turns 38 in two weeks, continues to be attempting to show to his critics simply how nice he really is needs to be strongly factored in. Crawford would not simply carry a imply streak like no different within the sport, 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 method to win irrespective 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 methodology of victory prop may convey a large return? Join SportsLine here to see which bets you need to make for the fight, all from the completed veteran fight sports activities analyst who has constantly delivered winners.