Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford will face off in a big boxing match later this year. The two champions are set to meet on Saturday, September 13, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Alvarez will defend his undisputed super-middleweight championship for the first time. Crawford aims to make history by becoming undisputed champion in a third weight class.
The fighters have already started promoting the event. They've gone on a global press tour, stopping in Riyadh, New York, and Las Vegas. During a media scrum after the first press conference, Canelo shared his thoughts on his opponent.
"I think Crawford is a little better than Mayweather but I have more experience right now."
This comment caught the attention of another boxing great, Manny Pacquiao. The eight-division world champion weighed in on Canelo's statement, saying:
"It's a different style you know. I mean they're both good fighters so it's hard to compare yourself to others."
Canelo's comparison to Mayweather brings up memories of his own fight with the legendary boxer. Back in 2013, Mayweather handed Canelo his first professional loss. The unanimous decision victory earned Mayweather the WBC world light-middleweight title.
Mayweather and Pacquiao themselves had a high-profile bout in 2015. Dubbed the "Fight of the Century," it took place in Las Vegas. Mayweather won by unanimous decision, unifying the WBC, WBA, and WBO welterweight titles. Despite the hype, many boxing fans and critics felt let down by the fight.
As the September date gets closer, fans will watch to see if Canelo vs Crawford lives up to expectations. Will it be a classic like some hope, or will it fall short like other big matches have in the past? We'll have to wait and see.
