Regis Prograis says he can’t see Terence Crawford pulling out a victory in his ‘Struggle of the Century’ battle in opposition to Canelo Alvarez on September thirteenth on the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. To begin with, Prograis believes Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) is simply too outdated. He turns 38 in September and hasn’t fought in a yr.
The Two-Division Weight Bounce
Regis says the two-division weight leap that Crawford will likely be doing will likely be kryptonite for him. Going up two weight divisions at 38, with no expertise at 168, and coming off a 13-month layoff. Crawford has every little thing going in opposition to him.
“He’s not like that [a mover] and he’s getting older now, too. If Crawford can pull it off, it’ll be superb, however I don’t see it,” stated Regis Prograis to Struggle Hub TV, predicting that Canelo Alvarez will defeat Terence Crawford subsequent month.
Final yr, Crawford appeared all of 37 for his combat in opposition to Israil Madrimov. He didn’t seem like he was 28, like some followers and fighters are claiming. He confirmed his age in that combat, getting outboxed and put-punched by Madrimov. What saved Crawford have been the judges. He misplaced that combat within the true sense, however the judges gave a miracle win with their upside-down scoring. On September thirteenth, it’s not lifelike that Crawford will get a second miracle.
“Canelo is huge, he’s robust. I hear that he’s [Crawford] going to knock him out. Canelo has been hit by Kovalev, and GGG. These have been huge punchers. Erislandy Lara and Bivol. He’s been hit by actual huge punchers. I don’t assume it’s going to do nothing,” stated Prograis.
The Case for a Gimmick Struggle
This complete concept by Turki Alalshikh of getting Crawford transfer up two weight lessons to problem Canelo for his 168-lb undisputed championship is dangerous. Turki ought to have made Crawford run a mini-gauntlet of two or three prime 168 or 175-lb fighters to show that he can get by it to have an opportunity in opposition to Canelo. Followers would respect the Canelo-Crawford combat much more than they do now. It wouldn’t be seen as a foolish gimmick combat.
“I believe he [Crawford] can catch him as a result of he is likely to be quicker. I simply don’t see it. How is he going to get the respect of Canelo? That is Canelo. The most effective fighters ever. Canelo is as robust as hell and may take a punch,” stated Prograis.
Crawford’s photographs didn’t have an effect on Israil Madrimov at 154. It was like he was getting hit by a jab, and his head didn’t even budge when Terence hit him. He shouldn’t even attempt to punch with Canelo as a result of he doesn’t stand an opportunity of successful a shootout with the Mexican celebrity. He’s not constructed to get within the trenches with Alvarez. What Crawford ought to do is field and transfer all evening like Floyd Mayweather Jr. did in his win over Canelo in 2012. Yeah, it’ll be ugly and the followers will boo, however his probabilities of successful will likely be higher.
“I believe the load goes to be an excessive amount of. He’s going up two divisions. When you’ve by no means fought. Madrimov, that was his [Crawford] first combat at 154,” stated Prograis. “Madrimov was hitting him. He was touching him up slightly bit. That is Canelo. If this have been simply one other larger man, I’d go along with Crawford. This is likely to be the perfect Mexican fighter ever. I do know all people needs Crawford to win. They need the underdog to win.”
It doesn’t matter what followers need. If Crawford can’t increase his sport from what we noticed a yr in the past in his debut at 154 in opposition to WBA junior middleweight champion Israil Madrimov, he’ll lose. It’s already a nasty signal that he’s placed on plenty of weight for the conflict, hoping that the added measurement will allow him to defeat Alvarez.
Why Tune-up Fights Matter
Crawford ought to have gotten two fights at 168 within the yr he’s been out and stored himself sharp for the combat. Preventing Osleys Iglesias, and Diego Pacheco would have been the right tune-ups for Bud. Even when he misplaced to 1 or each, he’d nonetheless possible be given the Canelo combat.
Turki Alalshikh likes Crawford. So, he’d given him a break if he bought decimated by the Cuban Iglesias and had the identical completed to him by Pacheco. If it’s the legacy that Crawford actually cares about and never the payday, he’d have stayed busy.
Boxing Information 24 » Is Terence Crawford’s Struggle with Canelo Only a ‘Foolish Gimmick’ or a True Check of Legacy?
Final Up to date on 08/18/2025
