By: Sean Crose
“By the best way,” ESPN’s Salvador Rodriguez posted Monday in Spanish on X/Twitter, “every little thing seems like it is going to be Charlo-Crawford for Canelo in 2024, in that order.” Ought to Rodriguez be confirmed right, Canelo Alvarez, maybe the most important star within the sport, may have two main occasions lined up for this yr. Though middleweight titlist Jermall Charlo has had his share of challenges each out and in of the ring, the person stays a recognized and in style commodity and has but to lose knowledgeable struggle. As for Terrence Crawford, at this level the man wants no introduction. For, after profitable the undisputed welterweight championship over Errol Spence final summer season, the fighter often known as Bud is regarded by some as the one finest boxer on earth.
Naturally all this leaves out David Benavidez, maybe the most important problem Canelo may face at tremendous middleweight. Charlo, in any case, has solely fought a single time at tremendous middleweight. Crawford, alternatively, is a welterweight. And whereas it’s been mentioned that Crawford goes to maneuver as much as junior middleweight quickly, there’s little doubt that he and Canelo must meet at some sort of catchweight ought to they struggle. But Benavidez is younger, sturdy, and undefeated. Moreover, Benavidez wouldn’t have to maneuver up in weight to face Canelo – he’s already an excellent middleweight, and has been for some time.
Canelo, although, is on the level in his sensible profession the place he can select whoever it’s he’d prefer to struggle. Seen via that exact lens, the selection of Charlo, then Crawford makes lots of sense. Canelo can be a substantial favourite in opposition to each males, in any case. He is perhaps the favourite if he had been to struggle Benavidez, too, after all, however not as a lot of 1. On high of all that, Canelo has reached such a degree of respect and recognition that he received’t be broadly faulted for his alternative of opponents, supplied he squares off in opposition to Benavidez sooner relatively than later.
In the end it’s good to recollect Rodriguez made it clear that it merely “seems” like Canelo will sq. off in opposition to Charlo and Crawford. In different phrases, neither potential matchup is assured. Removed from it. Even when Canelo needs to face Charlo and Crawford, there’s no assure both man would need to struggle him. That is significantly true within the case of the significantly smaller Crawford, who frankly has nothing on the planet to show at this level in his ring profession.
