Roy Jones Jr sees Canelo Alvarez as the favorite in his upcoming fight against Terence Crawford. The bout will take place in Las Vegas this September, with Crawford moving up two weight divisions to challenge Canelo at super-middleweight.
Jones, a four-weight world champion himself, knows a thing or two about climbing weight classes. He started as a middleweight and went on to capture titles at super middleweight, light heavyweight, and even heavyweight. His ability to adjust his fighting style while keeping his speed and power against bigger opponents made him one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in boxing history.
In a recent media interview, Jones shared his thoughts on the Canelo-Crawford matchup:
"It's Canelo's fight to lose."
Jones respects Crawford's skills but points out the significant challenge he faces. 'Bud' Crawford, a two-weight undisputed champion with belts in four divisions, will jump up 14 pounds to meet Canelo at 168.
Crawford's accomplishments are impressive, but Canelo's advantages in size and strength are hard to ignore. Alvarez has one of the best chins in boxing, having never been knocked down and rarely seen hurt in his 66-fight career.
Canelo's only two losses came against Floyd Mayweather at 152 pounds and Dmitry Bivol at 175. He remains undefeated at 169 pounds and under, which includes the super-middleweight limit.
Jones didn't completely rule out Crawford's chances, though. He added that one wrong step in Alvarez's gameplan could open the door for Crawford to win.
While Crawford sits out until the big fight, Canelo will face William Scull for a chance to become a two-time undisputed champion at super-middleweight. This interim bout adds extra motivation for Canelo heading into the Crawford showdown.
The stage is set for an intriguing clash of styles and sizes. Will Canelo's power and experience at the higher weight prove too much? Or will Crawford's skills translate to super-middleweight success? We'll find out this September in Las Vegas.
