Andre Ward remains to be pushing for unified tremendous middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez to struggle 154-pounder Terence Crawford as a result of he thinks the Nebraska native might “outbox” the Mexican star. Ward doesn’t perceive why Canelo (62-2-2, 39 KOs) gained’t give the 37-year-old Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) a shot.
Ought to Canelo Combat Crawford?
Canelo has already stated it’s not a struggle he’s involved in as a result of it’s a no-win kind of match, the place he’s criticized it doesn’t matter what occurs. The one one which comes out of the struggle in a terrific place is Crawford, who wouldn’t be criticized if he loses as a result of Canelo fights two weight courses above him and is way heavier.
Ward says nothing about Crawford not exhibiting initiative to maneuver as much as 168 and beat the highest fighters to earn a title shot in opposition to Canelo.
Why Isn’t Crawford Incomes the Combat?
Folks should earn issues by onerous work, and Ward isn’t urgent Crawford to maneuver as much as 168 and earn the struggle in opposition to Canelo by beating these contenders:
– Christian Mbilli
– Diego Pacheco
– Osleys Iglesias
– Jaime Munguia
– Caleb Plant
If Crawford have been hungry, he might struggle all 5 of these guys within the subsequent yr and be knocking on Canelo’s door for a world title shot by early 2026. Why isn’t Crawford doing that? Is he afraid of shedding to at least one or all of these fighters and being weeded out of the Canelo sweepstakes?
Crawford is coming off an in depth 12-round unanimous Choice in his debut at 154 in opposition to 11-fight novice Israil Madrimov on August third. He barely gained that struggle in his first struggle at junior middleweight, and he hasn’t fought any of the opposite killers at 154, like Bakhram Murtazaliev and Vergil Ortiz Jr.
Crawford has by no means been at 160, and that will be a logical step to work his technique to combating Canelo. Why isn’t Crawford combating IBF and WBO middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly? Does Crawford really feel he doesn’t should work for issues in life? Different fighters are working, so why isn’t he?
“The sport is totally different. There’s quite a lot of technique occurring with guys not taking fights and why they’re not taking fights,” stated Andre Ward to Stephen A. Jackson’s YouTube channel. “I just like the Terence Crawford vs. Canelo Alvarez struggle.
The sport is totally different. And Crawford is a part of it. Why isn’t he taking dangerous fights in opposition to Murataliev and Vergil Jr. at 154? Why isn’t Crawford combating Janibek at 160 or David Benavidez? There are fighters that aren’t taking fights, and Crawford is one among them. Ward simply isn’t calling him out for ducking guys.
“Lots of people say I’m loopy for saying that Terence Crawford can win that struggle. My factor is, in case you don’t suppose Terence Crawford can outbox Canelo Alvarez, you will have to verify your eyes,” stated Ward.
The 37-year-old Crawford barely beat Madrimov in his debut at 154, and it’s apparent from that struggle that he’s not going to chop the mustard if he jumps two weight courses to struggle Canelo at 168.
Crawford might make issues simpler on Canelo if he moved as much as 168 and beat Iglesias, Pacheco, Mbilli, Plant, and Munguia. If he can beat these guys or David Morrell, he’d probably get a title shot in opposition to Canelo.
Canelo’s Historical past of Combating Smaller Opponents
“There’s a motive why Canelo isn’t leaping into that struggle as a result of he fought Amir Khan, which was two weight courses under him [correction: one weight class]. So, the burden factor isn’t that large a deal,” stated Ward.
Khan solely went up one weight class, not two, when Canelo fought him in 2016. Canelo knew Khan would come to struggle. With Crawford, he already is aware of he’s going to make use of the Mayweather blueprint by boxing and shifting all night time lengthy.
His coach, Brian ‘BoMac’ McIntyre, already stated he’s going to have Crawford use the Mayweather recreation plan. In hindsight, BoMac ought to have saved his yap shut as a result of he gave Canelo much more of a motive to not struggle him.
“That’s a struggle [Canelo vs. Crawford] I’d actually wish to see. That’s a harmful struggle for each fighters for various causes. That’s a struggle I want to see, and that’s an all-time nice struggle that individuals [would like to see],” stated Ward.
“The idea is from the general public that he’s [Canelo] 30 lbs heavier. That might be a terrific traditional struggle,” stated Ward,
