As the boxing world gets ready for the much-anticipated fight versus Canelo Alvarez on September 12th in Las Vegas, momentum is quickly moving in Terence Crawford's favour.
Citing Canelo's lacklustre performance against IBF super middleweight champion William Scull on Saturday night in Riyadh, an increasing number of fans, commentators, and former fighters are starting to predict Crawford as the likely winner. Despite winning by unanimous decision, Canelo's performance caused more anxiety than it alleviated.
Compared to his prior bouts, the 34-year-old unified super middleweight champion was much slower and less explosive. His productivity was startlingly low, and his once-great footwork seemed to be slow. Canelo only landed 152 blows in the twelve rounds, which says a lot about Scull's evasiveness as well as Canelo's incapacity or desire to put pressure on the fight.
Canelo has long been commended for his timing, accuracy, and ring IQ, but those qualities are nothing without activity. In sharp contrast to the aggression exhibited in his heyday, he appeared timid against Scull, content to stalk but rarely fire. Conversely, Terence Crawford is experiencing a surge of power. The undefeated welterweight champion has routinely destroyed elite opponents with a combination of deft defense, accurate placement, and unrelenting pressure. Although his move to super middleweight is viewed as ambitious, many think that his speed, versatility, and ring generalship will provide him with a significant advantage over the ageing Mexican superstar.
This fight's timing couldn't be more important. Crawford is seen as the younger, more energetic fighter who is starting to reach his best, even though Canelo still holds all the titles at 168. Canelo runs the risk of being outworked and outboxed by a younger, hungrier opponent if he is unable to significantly increase his volume and intensity. The tide of public opinion is still turning as September 12th approaches. What was once thought to be a dangerous weight increase for Crawford is now seen as a premeditated attempt to unseat a waning champion.
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