According to sports figure Eddie Hearn, the significant physique of Canelo Alvarez, typically competing around 154 pounds, will present a challenge for Terence Crawford if they were to face off on the hypothetical fight on September 13th.
“I’m of the opinion that overall stature will be a factor, as I don’t view Crawford as a naturally large 154-pound competitor,” Hearn commented to Ring Magazine. “Despite what you might discern when they stand face to face [appearing similar in size], my experience with fighters facing Canelo is that everyone initially thinks, ‘Look how comparable he is in size to Canelo.’”
Crawford’s possible disadvantage in terms of size and his limited experience around 168 pounds might contribute to a potential defeat. The training he’s engaged in with bigger opponents might not adequately prepare him for the unique challenge that Canelo represents, because hired training partners cannot completely simulate fighting Alvarez.
“Think of bouts like Callum Smith versus Rocky Fielding. Ultimately, size isn’t the only thing to consider. It might influence the outcome, but I believe skill and strategic planning are more crucial,” Hearn stated.
My analysis suggests that size, strength, and experience within the super middleweight category are critical. Canelo’s inherent power and physical advantages are expected to influence the match’s resolution against Crawford.
“One could argue that Canelo is just too physically imposing. Crawford, despite his proficiency, encountered difficulties against Madrimov, even if he did eventually win. It was a close fight,” analyst Teddy Atlas pointed out. “We perhaps underestimated Madrimov’s capabilities.”
Crawford displayed observable struggles versus Israil Madrimov, although he secured a victory through a unanimous decision across 12 rounds; indications of aging were present. That match suggested that Crawford might not be the same dominant force he was previously at lighter weight classes like 147, 140, and 135 pounds. He seemingly reached his peak when moving up to 154, and now, a leap to 168 to confront Canelo for his undisputed title might be overreaching.
“We likely underappreciated Madrimov due to his relatively few professional fights—only 10—but he brought extensive amateur experience of around 300 fights to the table. He proved to be a reliable and capable fighter. Consequently, we started to critically assess Crawford more because our initial expectations were exceptionally high,” Atlas explained.
Teddy’s assessment suggests that Crawford’s struggles can be attributed to Israil Madrimov’s skill displayed during their fight on August 3, 2024. Another perspective is that Crawford’s age and a period of inactivity are catching up with him. He was absent from the ring for a year, following his triumph over Errol Spence in 2023.
