Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez and Terence Crawford are gearing up for a big fight in Las Vegas next year. The two champions will battle it out for the undisputed super middleweight championship.
Canelo, the Mexican superstar, currently holds all four major titles at 168 pounds. Crawford, the undefeated American, plans to jump up three weight divisions for this massive clash.
Abel Sanchez, who trained Gennady Golovkin for his three fights against Canelo between 2017 and 2022, shared his thoughts on the matchup. Sanchez saw Canelo up close over 36 rounds, with the Mexican winning two fights and one ending in a draw.
In an interview with Johnny Boy Boxing, Sanchez broke down how he thinks the fight will play out:
"Crawford will be faster in the first three or four rounds, because he's faster than Canelo. But once Canelo starts hitting his arms and hitting him in the body, it will be difficult for him to stay away from him unless he fights like (William) Scull and evades him around the ring."
Sanchez believes the weight difference could be a big factor. He pointed out that Crawford naturally belongs at 147 pounds and might struggle with the jump to 168.
"Terence will not have much strength in his legs, especially if he has jumped to the 168-pound category when he naturally belongs to the 147 (pounds). This is a very important factor to take into account."
The experienced trainer compared Canelo's potential impact in the later rounds to "a huge truck running over him." However, he didn't completely rule out Crawford's chances.
"It is true that he may get tired faster (Crawford), but if that strength materializes in the later rounds he will have a great opportunity to win the fight by decision."
The fight has got fans talking, with some criticizing Crawford's big weight jump. But there's no doubt it's one of the most looked-forward-to matchups of the decade.
Canelo's previous rivalry with Golovkin grabbed headlines worldwide and led to lots of debate about decisions and strategies. Now, all eyes are on how he'll handle the slick skills of Crawford in this super middleweight showdown.
