Paulie Malignaggi says it’ll be “higher for boxing” if Terence Crawford dethrones undisputed tremendous middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez in eight days on September thirteenth.
Canelo’s Stranglehold on Titles
Malignaggi argues that if Canelo (63-2-2, 39 KOs) wins, he’ll proceed to carry his 4 168-lb titles “hostage” by defending them towards “second-rate opposition” as he’s been routinely doing.
Malignaggi states that if Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) wins, he may vacate the 4 titles, liberating them up for the contenders to be given an opportunity to battle for them. He says that Canelo, 35, has not been offering the highest fighters alternatives to battle him for his belts.
The sanctioning our bodies have performed an element on this as nicely, giving Edgar Berlanga, Jaime Munguia, and John Ryder excessive rankings at 168. So, Canelo defended towards fighters rated within the high 5.
The sanctioning our bodies are nonetheless doing that with the WBC giving Hamzah Sheeraz a #1 rating after just one battle at 168 towards Berlanga. Sheeraz is likely one of the names within the working for Canelo’s subsequent title challenger, ought to the Mexican star defeat Crawford.
Crawford’s Tactical Method
“If Canelo goes to win, he’s going to have to chop off the ring and produce the battle to Crawford and lure him,” mentioned former world champion Paulie Malignaggi to talkSport Boxing. “To offset that, Crawford has to field and use his legs, however he can’t run. Should you’re transferring an excessive amount of, you’re going to wind up in flight and threat getting fatigued.”
Followers hope that Crawford gained’t use motion to keep away from Canelo as a result of they wish to see an thrilling battle. With the hype and heavy promotion that’s being put into this battle by Turki Alalshikh and Ring Journal, it might be an enormous letdown if Crawford performs it protected, utilizing the Floyd Mayweather Jr. blueprint to defeat Canelo by transferring all night time.
The Underwhelming Undercard
Whereas it’s not a PPV occasion, followers nonetheless wish to be entertained and don’t wish to subscribe to Netflix for nothing. The undercard, packaged with the Canelo-Crawford battle, is full of prospects, lots of whom are possible destined to be profession fringe contenders. It might have helped cushion the doable disappointment of the primary occasion if Turki had stacked the undercard with high fighters who’re future world champion materials or some holding titles.
“One benefit Crawford has is that he’s a two-stance fighter, and he’s very slick out of each stances,” mentioned Malignaggi. “He’s very misleading out of each stances. Canelo has some superb sparring companions who can change stances. He’s bought Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis. Crawford has been sparring with [super middleweight contender] Lester Martinez.”
The Problem of Swap-Hitting
Canelo has fought too many southpaws throughout his profession for Crawford’s switch-hitting potential to be a bonus for him. If something, it may get Crawford damage if he chooses to always swap stances as a result of Canelo may catch him whereas he’s switching and knock him out. I believe he could be higher off sticking with the southpaw stance the complete battle.
“I hope I don’t need to take care of Canelo taking up second-rate opposition once more, like he’s been doing and holding belts hostage. I do suppose it’s higher for boxing if Crawford beats him. Crawford then retires and vacates the titles, after which they grow to be up for grabs in an excellent tremendous middleweight division the place numerous younger fighters which have deserved a title shot and never gotten it,” mentioned Malignaggi.
Crawford’s Publish-Struggle Plan
If Crawford wins, he’s not anticipated to vacate the undisputed tremendous middleweight championship. A rematch is the more than likely factor to occur, and Crawford will maintain onto the titles lengthy sufficient for that to happen. He may quit a belt if, for instance, the IBF orders him to defend towards the necessary challenger Osleys Iglesias. Crawford wouldn’t take that dangerous battle and probably get knocked out. He’d sacrifice the title and face Canelo in a rematch with three relatively than 4 titles.
