Former world title challenger Gabriel Rosado feels {that a} struggle between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford doesn’t make sense as a result of the Mexican star has no upside. With the restricted upside for Canelo, it makes zero sense for him to accommodate Crawford except he’s simply concerned with getting paid a boatload of cash by the Saudis.
If the undisputed tremendous middleweight champion Canelo (61-2-2, 39 KOs) is victorious towards the soon-to-be 37-year-old Crawford, he gained’t obtain credit score as a result of he’ll be shifting up in weight two divisions after one struggle at 154 towards Israiel Madrimov.
Crawford gained’t have earned his place to problem Canelo by defeating any of the fighters at 168, so it could be a scenario the place solely he can achieve. He’ll get the large payday from combating Canelo, and if he loses, he’ll have an excuse to inform his followers, blaming it on him not belonging at 168.
If Crawford is even aggressive towards Canelo, he would come out of the struggle trying nice, whereas Alvarez’s legacy can be diminished.
Issues can be totally different if Crawford went as much as 168 and beat somebody like David Benavidez or David Morrell. At the least if he beat these guys, Canelo would get credit score for defeating Crawford, and if he struggled, he wouldn’t be criticized. Nonetheless, Crawford has no intention of combating Benavidez or Morrell. He simply needs to skip the road, which places Canelo in a foul place.
Canelo may select to accommodate Crawford anyway as a result of the cash the Saudis pays him can be so good that he can overlook doubtlessly shedding or not getting credit score for profitable.
“Should you’re in Canelo’s sneakers, Crawford has nothing to lose as a result of if he loses, he’s not meant to struggle at 168. He has nothing to lose and every little thing to realize,” stated Gabe Rosado to Combat Hub TV about Terence Crawford is in a no-lose scenario shifting as much as 168 to problem Canelo Alvarez for his undisputed tremendous middleweight championship in 2025.
It’s a nightmarish scenario for Canelo as a result of he’s not getting something out of the Crawford struggle however cash. It’s the identical scenario Crawford can be in if he fought somebody two divisions under him.
If a younger phenom from 140 moved as much as 154 and fought Crawford, he wouldn’t get credit score for beating the fighter, and if he struggled or misplaced, he’d by no means hear the top of it.
“It’s his [Crawford] greatest payday, and it provides him the chance to struggle ‘The Face of Boxing’ Canelo,” stated Rosado. “It’s a win-win scenario for Crawford. Canelo, however, if he beats Crawford, ‘Nicely, you’re alleged to beat Crawford as a result of he’s the smaller man.’ Then, should you don’t win [you get dumped on by the fans],” stated Rosado.
Crawford is the one one who beneficial properties in a struggle towards Canelo, and it’s off-putting that he can be given this chance with out incomes it by combating a minimum of two of the highest guys within the weight class to earn the shot.
“It’s a type of issues that I don’t suppose it is sensible for Canelo. It makes all of the sense on this planet for Crawford,” stated Rosado. “I’d favor to see Canelo struggle the blokes at that weight class. Who is aware of who he’s combating subsequent? There’s discuss of him combating Berlanga, after which they are saying Eubank. Eubank is a smaller man, however he’s beating Eubank straightforward.”
The one fighter that boxing followers wish to see Canelo struggle at 168 is David Benavidez, and he’s not a real tremendous middleweight. He’s a youthful fighter who can nonetheless boil down super quantities of weight to compete in a division under his body. Benavidez is a real gentle heavyweight, and Canelo and his supervisor are nicely conscious of that. It will be like Artur Beterbiev or Dmitry Bivol boiling all the way down to struggle at 168 and massacring the smaller opposition in that weight class, trying invincible.
That’s what Benavidez does—he makes himself look higher than he really is. He’s a weight bully. He doesn’t wish to struggle in his pure weight class at 175 as a result of he has no benefits, and his profession wouldn’t excel.
“Eubank acquired knocked out by Liam Smith. Eubank by no means confirmed that he can beat world-class guys. He doesn’t struggle at that type of degree. It is sensible for Canelo as a result of he at all times wished to struggle in London. That’s the upside for Canelo, headlining in London. Within the Berlanga struggle, he’s the favourite, clearly,” stated Rosado.
Chris Eubank Jr. has operated on the home degree via most of his profession and solely as soon as deviated from that path towards George Groves and was schooled. Canelo would simply beat Eubank Jr., however that’s not up for debate. Like Rosado says, the principle motive Canelo would struggle Eubank Jr. is in order that he can struggle in London and bask within the limelight.
