This weekend, the boxing world prepares for a monumental matchup as Terence “Bud” Crawford faces Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in Las Vegas, vying for all the super middleweight titles on the line.
Dubbed as one of the most crucial contests of 2025, this fight promises intriguing narratives, particularly emphasizing the time-tested adage that a good big man often defeats a good little man.
In this case, Crawford, nearing 38 years old this month and boasting an extraordinary 41-0 record with 31 knockouts, has never tasted the canvas.
Despite his remarkable skills, which come to life during each bout, Crawford tended to fly under the radar until his explosive performance against then-undefeated Errol Spence in July 2023.
On that night, both fighters weighed in at the welterweight limit of 147 pounds, but Crawford demonstrated his superior prowess and speed, delivering a beatdown that left Spence questioning his place in the ring.
Crawford knocked Spence down three times and led by an astonishing nine points on all scorecards before the referee stepped in to stop the fight in the ninth round.
His precision punching and tactical brilliance have not gone unnoticed, with many regarding this fight as one of the most impressive in recent boxing history.
However, since that standout performance, Crawford has remained worryingly inactive, participating in only one match post-Spence against Israil Madrimov for the WBO super welterweight title in August 2024.
Crawford faced challenges at a heavier weight, appearing slower and lacking the dominance that characterized his welterweight days, despite winning the bout by a narrow unanimous decision.
Rather than returning to the welterweight category, Crawford is jumping two weight classes to 168 pounds to face Canelo.
In what many consider a high-risk move, Crawford is going into this fight without any interim matches at the super middleweight level, marking a drastic shift of 21 pounds gained since his last fight.
Canelo, at 35 years old and with a career record of 63-2-2, has established himself as a leading figure in boxing and the largest draw since Floyd Mayweather retired.
Canelo’s remarkable journey spans back to his first professional fight in October 2005, and he has experienced his own lessons on the significance of weight in the sport.
After moving up to the light heavyweight division in 2022, he learned the hard way against Dmitrii Bivol, who dominated him and handed Canelo a unanimous decision loss.
Following this bout, Canelo quickly dropped back down to super middleweight and continued his stellar performance, securing a victory in his trilogy against Gennadiy Golovkin.
That fight solidified his status at 168 pounds, and Canelo signed a lucrative contract worth $400 million for future fights, ensuring his position as a central figure in the boxing landscape.
Canelo’s return to the ring saw him dominating against William Scull in May 2025, an opponent who seemed more concerned with survival than competition, setting the stage for the highly anticipated showdown with Crawford.
As the fight nears, Crawford’s victory could challenge the existing narrative that larger fighters consistently have the advantage, while satisfied fans and critics are eager to witness how this fight unfolds.
Those interested in Crawford’s chances point to historical parallels, such as the iconic match between Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvelous Marvin Hagler in 1987.
Leonard, stepping up for the middleweight crown without prior experience above welterweight, executed a strategic plan that relied on his speed and intelligence to edge out Hagler by a narrow decision.
Crawford vs. Canelo is expected to evoke similar drama and excitement, with boxing in dire need of a thrilling contest that captivates audiences and redefines expectations.
As fans anticipate the opening bell, the excitement is palpable, with everyone wondering if Crawford can debunk the age-old quote that favors size in boxing.
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