Famed trainer and analyst Teddy Atlas has weighed in on Saul ‘Canelo‘ Alvarez versus Terence Crawford as recent reports suggest the fight has been agreed.
Canelo has slowly come around to the idea of the bout, which would see Crawford jump up two weight divisions from his last fight at super-welterweight to challenge for the Mexican’s super-middleweight belts.
Many feel that the size difference between the two men, particularly since Canelo is extremely comfortable in his division, is too much for Crawford, even despite being regarded as one of the very best fighters on the planet.
Atlas dissected the match-up on his podcast and asked the question from the opposite point of view:
“Can Canelo handle the smaller guy, who’s going to be faster, slicker, better defensively? He’s gonna have better legs. Canelo, at this point in his career, he’s slowed down a little bit. They’re both getting older, I get it.
“Sometimes his legs aren’t as quick. He don’t close the gaps as fast. Is the smaller Crawford gonna take advantage? Get off, get to the side, give him angles. Not allow him to use his power, to detonate the bomb … Is that gonna be really what we’re gonna see?”
Then, in no uncertain terms, Atlas backed Crawford to do the business.
“At the end of the day, before you go drink the Kool-Aid and go crazy with Canelo. ‘Oh, he’s too big, goodnight for Crawford,’ and all that stuff. Not so fast. Not so fast. Don’t forget that the other guy is bringing something to the party too.”
“I think you know where I’m leaning. I’ll make it even clearer when I’m leaning so there isn’t a lot of suspense. I ain’t going against Crawford. I do think he’s that special guy. I think Canelo’s special too, but Crawford even more so. He hasn’t learned how to lose yet. I think he does have those special ingredients that go beyond the physical. So, that’s it. Okay? You don’t like it? Too bad.”
Fans await news on the bout, but all signs seem to be pointing towards it being delivered before 2025 is out.
