John Ryder anticipates Canelo Alvarez will maintain a close-quarters strategy against Terence Crawford, compelling him to engage in close combat, and ultimately secure a narrow victory on September 13th.
Ryder previously faced Canelo (63-2-2, 39 KOs) in 2023, suffering a comprehensive 12-round unanimous decision defeat. While Ryder isn’t known for his evasiveness like Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs), he still recognizes Alvarez’s relentless pressure will force Crawford into a close-range battle.
Canelo’s close-range fighting tactics
“You’re likely to witness Canelo stay right on top of Crawford, denying him space, limiting his lateral movement, and concentrating on in-close fighting,” John Ryder shared with Fight Hub TV, outlining his prediction for Canelo Alvarez’s strategy to overcome Terence Crawford on September 13th.
A potentially ‘unexciting’ Mayweather-esque showing
Crawford will have dedicated his entire training camp to devising methods to thwart Canelo’s close-quarters approach, employing movement, altering angles, and clinching. This could result in a display reminiscent of Jerry, which some fans might find uneventful, while appealing to those who appreciate the classic Mayweather style.
Turki Alalshikh may be pleased with a Crawford victory achieved by any means, but he’s likely to face criticism from fans who prioritize entertainment over purely strategic fighting. Contemporary audiences generally prefer action-packed bouts and might not appreciate a night dominated by movement, clinching, and jabbing, as was common before the internet era.
“Don’t allow Crawford the room to maneuver. Don’t provide him with the leverage for his powerful shots. Crawford can be very dangerous with leverage, movement, and switching stances,” Ryder cautioned. “But I believe Canelo will stick close to him, almost smothering him. He’ll employ excellent head movement, effective rolling, and well-timed catch counters to wear him down.”
Alvarez will need to apply even more pressure on Crawford than he did against his recent opponent, William Scull, if he intends to remain in close proximity throughout the fight. We already know from Terence’s trainer, Brian ‘BoMac’ McIntyre, that they plan to utilize constant movement, emulating the in-and-out style employed by Dmitry Bivol. BoMac stated they intend to follow the blueprint of Bivol and Floyd Mayweather Jr. to defeat Canelo, which involves utilizing movement, jabbing, and clinching.
“I anticipate a points victory. I believe Canelo will prevail, but by a relatively small margin. However, if Crawford defies expectations and secures a points victory, I wouldn’t be entirely surprised,” Ryder commented.
The aging, less energetic Alvarez prevails
A younger version of Canelo would likely secure a dominant decision or even a knockout victory over Crawford. However, the older, less energetic version of Alvarez that we’ve witnessed since 2022 will likely win by a score of 8-4. He will still overpower the smaller, weaker, and older Crawford, but it won’t be a complete shutout.
Conversely, if Crawford were to face some of the younger super middleweights, such as Diego Pacheco, Osleys Iglesias, or Christian Mbilli, he would likely be knocked out. Those fighters possess too much size and power for him. They wouldn’t allow him the same leeway as Canelo.
“He possesses the talent to achieve it. He’s an exceptional fighter. He’s not simply following the expected script. He’s prepared to deviate from the plan and do whatever is necessary to win. I’m excited to watch it as a fan and enjoy the evening,” Ryder said about Crawford.
Terence didn’t appear to be at his best in his previous fight against Israil Madrimov a year prior, and he was fortunate to receive the judges’ decision. That fight indicated that now that Crawford is competing at his natural weight, he’s not able to dominate in the same way he did when he was physically larger than his opponents at 147, 140, and 135 pounds.
