Oscar De La Hoya, a prominent boxing promoter, recently expressed a change in his opinion regarding the potential outcome of a fight between Terence Crawford and Canelo Alvarez. Initially, De La Hoya believed that Crawford’s superior skills would give him the edge over Canelo, even at a weight of 168 pounds. However, after witnessing Crawford struggle against WBA junior middleweight champion Ismail Madrimov, De La Hoya now believes that Alvarez’s combination of size and talent would secure him the victory. This unexpected turn of events has cast doubt on Crawford’s abilities and raised questions about his future opponents and weight classes.
During the fight against Madrimov, Crawford faced several challenges that showcased his vulnerabilities. These challenges included a one-year layoff, a move up in weight class, age-related factors, and a lack of experience against top-tier opponents throughout his career. De La Hoya pointed out that Madrimov’s performance exposed the limitations in Crawford’s skill set and overall capabilities. Additionally, Crawford’s track record of facing older and less competitive fighters, such as Errol Spence, Shawn Porter, David Avanesyan, Jeff Horn, Kell Brook, Egidijus Kavaliauskas, Amir Khan, and Jose Benavidez Jr, has raised concerns about his ability to compete against elite competition.
De La Hoya emphasized the age-old belief in boxing that the “bigger, better man will always beat the good smaller man.” This sentiment underscores the importance of size, strength, and skill in determining the outcome of fights between competitors of varying physical attributes. De La Hoya’s observation of Crawford’s performance against Madrimov has reinforced his belief that Canelo’s stature and superior abilities would ultimately prevail in a potential matchup between the two fighters.
The Uncertain Future of Canelo-Crawford Fight
While the possibility of a Canelo-Crawford fight still exists, it hinges on external factors such as financial considerations and the willingness of stakeholders to make the matchup happen. Canelo’s requested purse of $150 million poses a significant obstacle to arranging the fight, as His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, who would need to provide the funds, has not shown a clear inclination to meet this demand. De La Hoya’s acknowledgment of the challenges involved in coordinating such a high-profile bout reflects the complexities of negotiations in the boxing world.
Terence Crawford’s performance against Ismail Madrimov has sparked a reevaluation of his potential to compete against Canelo Alvarez. Oscar De La Hoya’s insights into Crawford’s struggles, past opponents, and the dynamics of a potential Canelo-Crawford fight highlight the uncertainties and complexities inherent in the boxing landscape. As the boxing community awaits further developments, the impact of Crawford’s recent performance on his future prospects remains a topic of speculation and debate.