Michael Bisping doesn’t like Terence Crawford’s chances against Canelo Alvarez this weekend.
This Saturday at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Crawford and Alvarez face off in one of the most highly anticipated boxing matches in years, broadcast live on Netflix. An undisputed champion at junior welterweight and welterweight (140 and 147 pounds), Crawford is jumping up to 168 pounds to challenge Canelo for his undisputed super middleweight title.
Should Crawford “Bud” win, he would become the first male
champion to win an undisputed title in three weight classes during the four-belt era, but UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping is skeptical about Crawford’s chances.
“In this fight, Crawford is going to have to use the footwork; he’s going to have to dance around, let Canelo Alvarez come to him,” Bisping said on his YouTube channel. “And that’s what he does, that’s his style. He’s got beautiful footwork. He’s going to wait for Canelo to chase him down, and he’s going to look for Canelo to make mistakes. He’s going to look for Canelo to overexpose, to get frustrated, to wing in some wild shots, and when he throws, and he gets a little reckless, leaves the opening, that’s where Crawford is going to step in.
“But that’s a hard thing to do for 12 rounds, to dance around, to stay away, to be on your bike, to circle, to fight with a ridiculously high IQ. He does do that, but at some point, he’s going to have to stop and stand. This is a fight, after all. And if he’s going to win this fight, in Las Vegas, against Canelo Alvarez, the face of boxing, he’s got to stand and trade. He’s probably going to have to give the finish. There’s no way they’re going to give a decision against Canelo Alvarez unless it’s very, very one-sided.
“So Canelo Alvarez is going to fight like he fights, and at some point, Crawford is going to have to stand and trade, as simple as that. And with Canelo being the bigger guy, with Canelo being the stronger guy, with Canelo being used to fighting and absorbing those kinds of punches and power, I think it’s a really tough task for Crawford.”
Though Alvarez began his career at welterweight, most of his biggest wins have come at either middleweight or super middleweight, and even a brief foray to light heavyweight. Crawford, meanwhile, is taking this fight after just one bout at junior middleweight, where he won the WBO interim title over Israil Madrimov. Given the size disparity expected between the two, Bisping says this is simply a matter of physics.
“Moving up multiple weight classes to take on the bigger man,” Bisping said. “He’s going to be faster, he’s going to be lighter on the feet. He’s very, very technical. Technically, I think Crawford is the better boxer, but size really does matter when it comes down to it. When it’s all said and done, can you hurt Canelo Alvarez? …
“If Bud wins, it will be historic, it will be monumental, it will be something that is never forgotten about, but I don’t think it’s going to happen,” Bisping continued. “Canelo Alvarez is the bigger guy, he’s the face of boxing, he’s fighting in Las Vegas, he’s the bigger, stronger guy, he’s got a good chin, he’s got the harder shots, he’s got the muscle to absorb it. … I think Canelo wins this fight and I think he wins it via decision or a late stoppage.”
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Roundtable. Debating the big storylines heading into Canelo vs. Crawford this weekend.
VIDEO STEW
Terence Crawford at Media Day.
Canelo vs. Crawford Embedded, Episode 3.
Noche UFC Media Day.
Best Noche UFC fights.
New Smashing Machine trailer.
FLAVOR IN YOUR EAR
No Bets Barred.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
Discussion.
Release the tapes!
I don’t know what this means.
Merab playing chicken.
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Angela Hill (18-15) vs. Fatima Kline (8-1); UFC 322, Nov. 15.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Honestly, Bisping kinda nails this one. Even the idea that Bid is moving up 2 weight classes is kinda wrong. Sure, he fought once at junior middleweight, but his career has been 147 pounds. Now he’s fighting Canelo at 168 pounds. Imagine Alexander Volkanovski fighting Jack Della Maddalena. That’s what we’re talking here. Especially since there’s basically no chance Crawford can stop Canelo. Canelo has a legendary chin, which means Bud has to win 7 rounds convincingly against a dude who, if worst comes to worst, can simply bully him.
Crawford is a magician, but this would be some Houdini ish to pull off.
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