Canelo Alvarez says Terence Crawford’s final combat at 154 in opposition to Israil Madrimov confirmed that the fitting weight class for him is at 147.
Canelo states that Crawford’s efficiency at 154 was “completely different,” that means he’s not the identical fighter talent-wise as he was at 147. He’s not dominating, and he received’t be at this weight class or at 168.
Alvarez says he understands that Crawford needs to make historical past and believes he can transfer as much as 168 and beat anyone. Nevertheless, there are weight lessons for a motive, and he’s hit his ceiling at 154. He doesn’t appear to be the fighter he was at 147.
Certainly, Crawford’s combat with WBA junior middleweight champion Madrimov was razor-close and will have gone the opposite approach. A draw would have been higher as a result of it was too shut to choose a winner. Madrimov landed the cleaner, tougher photographs in each spherical, however the judges targeted on his jabs.
WBA, WBC, and WBO tremendous middleweight champion Canelo (61-2-2, 39 KOs) says he’s open to speaking to His Excellency Turki Alalshikh a couple of combat with Crawford after his title protection in opposition to Edgar Berlanga on September 14th. Canelo says, “We will discuss after this combat.”
Canelo Open to Crawford Battle
“I’m within the enterprise. I can do the combat that’s higher for me, and if the cash is correct, it’s okay,” mentioned Canelo Alvarez on the Pound 4 Pound YouTube channel about his ideas on combating Terence Crawford.
“I prefer to be comfy, I prefer to be in peace, and so they [His Excellency Turki Alalshikh] like to speak to me when I’ve a combat in entrance [of me], and I don’t prefer to work in that approach,” mentioned Canelo.
If Turki could make a proposal Canelo finds agreeable, he’ll take the combat with Crawford. We’ll see if he’s keen to fulfill his value. I don’t suppose will probably be an excellent combat for the followers, although, as a result of Crawford can be too small, previous, and weak to compete with Canelo at 168.
Crawford seemed dangerous taking photographs from Madrimov, and he was fortunate the judges gave extra weight to his jabs than the facility photographs he was getting nailed with. The judges aren’t going to do the identical factor for Crawford in opposition to Canelo.
What’s Crawford’s Actual Motivation?
Possibly Crawford is concentrated on the cash he’ll get and doesn’t care about profitable the Canelo combat. It’s only a cash seize for Crawford to cushion his retirement years, which is what many followers really feel about it.
“I say, ‘Look, I don’t wish to speak about some other combat,” mentioned Canelo in regards to the Crawford negotiations. “After the combat with Berlanga, we are able to sit and speak about it and make every part sense.’ But when not, I’m not begging for something.
“I’m good within the place I’m in. I’m not begging to make a combat. I’m not begging to make that combat [Crawford]. I don’t want something. I’m doing my very own enterprise. I’m good. So, if you wish to make that, okay. We will discuss after the combat,” mentioned Canelo.
Crawford and Turki need the combat with Canelo, not the opposite approach round. Canelo isn’t the one campaigning for the combat and was complaining nonstop earlier this month. Crawford made an enormous manufacturing after his unimpressive win over Madrimov. The one factor that was lacking was the violins within the background, together with Crawford’s crying.
Crawford’s Limitations at Increased Weight
“He seems to be in his weight class. I believe his weight class is 147,” mentioned Canelo about Crawford. You possibly can see the distinction. You possibly can see within the final combat [Israil Madrimov] that it’s completely different,” mentioned Canelo when requested if he thinks Crawford can’t push folks at 154.
Crawford seemed like a fish out of the water at 154, displaying no energy and being afraid to assault for concern of being nailed by Madrimov. This isn’t an excellent weight class for Crawford, and it by no means can be. Even when he packs on a bunch of muscle, he’ll stay out of his depth at 154.
“I do know that as fighters, we expect we are able to do issues. We will do every part. We will go up and combat everyone and beat them and take into consideration that. However if you’re in there, it’s approach completely different,: mentioned Canelo.
“As a fighter, I do know that he [Crawford] needs to make historical past and go up, and he believes he can beat everyone. That’s why there are weight lessons,” mentioned Canelo.
I don’t suppose Crawford’s rationale for wanting the Canelo combat is about legacy. I believe he simply needs the large cash that comes from combating him. If it had been about legacy, Crawford would cease at 160 and seize belts first earlier than transferring to 168. However he needs that Canelo’s cash, and legacy is secondary.
