Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford are set to face off in what could be the biggest fight on American soil in almost a decade. The match-up pits two of the best boxers of their generation against each other and has the potential to redefine the boxing industry.
Both fighters come into this bout after performances that weren't their best. Crawford's last fight at 154 pounds against Israil Madrimov ended in a close decision victory. His performance was less dominant than usual, raising questions about his physical ceiling at the higher weight class.
Canelo, on the other hand, secured a unanimous decision victory over William Scull in his last outing. The fight lacked the offensive action fans have come to expect from the Mexican star. Some observers have started to wonder about Canelo's motivation and his ability to cut the ring at this stage of his career.
But history shows us that great champions often go through moments of uncertainty before they shine again. In 1987, Sugar Ray Leonard came back after three years of inactivity and faced a chorus of detractors. He shocked the world by defeating Marvin Hagler in a fight few thought he could win.
Salvador Sanchez provides another example. After a lackluster performance against Nicky Perez, Sanchez entered his fight with Wilfredo Gomez as the underdog. Motivated by Gomez's taunts, Sanchez delivered an iconic victory for Mexico in its rivalry with Puerto Rico, stopping Gomez in the eighth round.
Evander Holyfield's first fight with Mike Tyson offers a similar lesson. Following a string of poor performances, bookmakers pegged Holyfield as a sure victim. Instead, Holyfield found his best form and pulled off one of the biggest surprises in modern boxing.
"You can't judge a champion solely on their last fight," said veteran boxing analyst Joe Cortez. "True legends often shine when there are the most doubts about them. That's what makes this Canelo-Crawford fight so intriguing."
The stage is set for either Canelo or Crawford to silence their critics and cement their legacy. As history has shown, it's often when the odds seem stacked against them that great fighters produce their most memorable performances.
