Shawn Porter has concerns about Terence Crawford’s ability to absorb Canelo Alvarez’s power during a full twelve-round fight in the 168-lb division next year if the bout takes place.
Crawford’s Next Test: Madrimov as Canelo Stand-In
Saturday’s fight between Crawford and WBA junior middleweight champion Israel Madrimov is seen as a test for Terence against a fighter of Canelo’s stature.
Madrimov’s punching power is close to Canelo’s, if not better. If Crawford is able to land his shots without missing them, there’s a good chance he’ll stick around next year when he faces Canelo.
The main difference is that Canelo has better hand speed, loads more, and will be taking Crawford down for the rest of the fight. Madrimov throws a lot of haymakers and won’t always pressure Crawford like he will Canelo.
Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) has shown the ability to take power punches from hard-hitting 147-pounders like Errol Spence and David Avanesyan without injury, but it will be difficult to take a shot from a strong guy like Canelo. .
“I’m worried about him getting a punch from Canelo, especially in the middle of twelve rounds,” said Shawn Porter on Fight Hub TV, talking about his concerns about Terence Crawford if he is beaten by super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez in a possible fight. in 2025.
If Crawford chooses to punch and move, he can avoid Canelo’s many punches. The fight will be boring and disappointing for the fans, but if all Crawford cares about is a decision win, it would be good for him.
Historical Background: The Strategy of Sugar Ray Leonard
Sugar Ray Leonard performed well against WBC middleweight champion Marvin Hagler, winning a hard-fought twelve-round split decision in April 1987. Fans praised him for his weight loss from 147 to 160.
Leonard fought fast, throwing shoe-light punches with little force, and the crowd ate him up. Hagler landed some big blows throughout the fight, but two judges didn’t give him credit.
The fans didn’t care that it wasn’t a good fight. They thought that what Leonard had accomplished was very good, even though it was a controversial and ineffective decision. Crawford could do the same; the fans would give him credit, and Canelo’s legacy would be damaged.
“We know this about Canelo; he’s going to slow down,” Porter continued about a possible fight between Canelo and Crawford. “So, I think, if anything, Canelo is going to try to start early and knock him down and break him before it gets too late and he gets that kind of steam.”
Canelo always starts fast, but he’s still dangerous, even in the later rounds. It would be better for Crawford if he could fight Canelo instead of following Mayweather’s plan of playing it safe, but he’s not one to do that unless he’s sure he won’t get hurt.
“There are many components that make a champion and many elements that make a good legend,” Porter said. “We have a lot to go into. A conversation that easily lasts an hour.
“We’re talking about all the parts that Terence Crawford has. All the parts that Canelo has, and how we find out how they come out and who is speaking. You know what I mean? We tried to do that with Errol Spence and Terence Crawford, we saw how that went,” said Porter.
Spence looked out of shape last year when he fought Crawford. You could tell by looking at Spence that his sedentary lifestyle between fights, obesity, idleness, and two car crashes had all taken its toll on him.
Canelo, 34, still has skills, but they have also eroded. However, his strength and boxing IQ are still there. If Crawford is beaten by Canelo, he could be in a bad situation. Crawford says he plays with great players, but he doesn’t say who they are.
It is unlikely that there is anyone on Canelo’s level, which means that his popularity does not mean that he cannot take the Mexican star’s shots. If this fight is just a hustle for Crawford to get his retirement paycheck, it won’t matter if he loses. He will have found his golden parachute and can call it the next day.
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