Maybe not in history. However, it will certainly be the biggest fight of the era – or even the decade – if the Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford showdown becomes a reality.
For the sport, the new year has started on a positive note. Fans can look forward to a plethora of exciting matchups, including some they’ve been eagerly anticipating for months or even years. One of the most awaited has been the Canelo-Crawford fight.
Ever since Crawford demolished Errol Spence Jr.‘s challenge, talks of a showdown against one of the biggest names in boxing have been swirling. The narrative followed the familiar cycle of highs and lows – mostly lows – until last year. However, with His Excellency Turki Alalshikh finally intervening, the momentum apparently shifted in a positive direction. Reports confirm that talks are progressing toward a potential clash around the Mexican Independence Day weekend. Yet, doubts remain. Many experts and former champions are still uncertain about how Crawford will be able to leapfrog two weight divisions to face Alvarez. Among the skeptics is Mikey Garcia, the younger brother of Ring Magazine’s ‘Trainer of the Year’ award recipient, Robert Garcia.
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Fight Hub TV caught up with the former four-division world champion during his visit to Hamburg, Germany, for the WBC Convention. The reporter highlighted HE Turki Alalshikh’s statement. The Riyadh Season head had expressed his desire to make the Canelo-Crawford fight happen.
After reflecting for a moment, Mikey Garcia said, “I’m not a big fan of that fight.” His main concern centers around the significant weight disparity between Crawford and Canelo Alvarez. Before Crawford moved up to 154 pounds, the difference was equivalent to three weight classes.
Robert Garcia’s brother also pointed out how Terence Crawford seemingly struggled against Israil Madrimov during their title fight in Los Angeles. Despite Crawford’s superior skills, Garcia believes the size difference will be the deciding factor in a potential showdown. The Mexican superstar’s power and size will likely give him the upper hand.
Appreciating Crawford’s stellar career, Garcia reiterated, “That’s why I’m not even a fan of that fight. I think Crawford has accomplished everything he had to accomplish, from 140 to 147 to now 154. That’s even greater for him.” If Crawford truly wants to push himself further, he could pursue the unified/undisputed route in his current division, he opined. However, there’s a catch: “But there’s no money in that.”
Mikey Garcia held a similar view regarding Canelo Alvarez. Garcia acknowledges that a fight between Canelo and Crawford would generate substantial revenue. But as a fight fan, he’s not in favor of the matchup. He would prefer to see Alvarez face fighters within his weight class or above, such as Artur Beterbiev or a rematch with Dmitry Bivol. “He wanted to challenge himself, move up to 175 again, and challenge himself against those guys. Yeah, not a smaller guy moving up you,” said Garcia.
Those are strong views from someone who has been in the ring. These opinions are shared by several prominent figures, including Mike Tyson. For boxing legend Roy Jones Jr., like Mikey Garcia, Terence Crawford’s skills are undeniable. However, dealing with Alvarez’s size could prove to be a daunting challenge. “If Terence can deal with the size, he will beat him,” the legend stated during an interview with ‘Mill City Boxing.’
