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Matchroom head honcho Eddie Hearn has labeled the Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford bout as a “freak fight,” viewing it as only for “a lot of money” once they probably meet in September.
Hearn says that Crawford, 37, doesn’t have to show himself at 168 first as a result of he’s simply going up for one “money” combat towards WBA, WBC, and WBO tremendous middleweight champion Canelo (62-2-2, 39 KOs).
Crawford Skips The Line
In different phrases, it’s okay for Crawford to skip the road in entrance of the contenders who’ve been working onerous for the chance to problem for a world title. Is it truthful? Nope.
It’s completely 100% unfair, and it’s troubling that one other 154-pounder is getting the chance to maneuver up two weight courses to problem Canelo for his titles quite than one of many extra deserving contenders.
Boxing Wants a Commissioner
As Tim Bradley says, boxing wants a commissioner to supervise the game to create guidelines towards line-cutters getting unearned alternatives to problem for world titles in weight courses they’ve by no means competed in.
If there was a commissioner accountable for the game, they wouldn’t enable Crawford to maneuver as much as 168 to combat for world titles until he earned it by beating the highest contenders in entrance of him.
Hearn’s Defends “Freak Fight”
“No, because it’s a freak fight. His career is not heading towards 168 lbs. It’s a one-off freak fight for a lot of money. That’s what it is,” stated Eddie Hearn to Fighthype when requested to reply to critics who say Terence Crawford ought to take a look at himself towards one of many high tremendous middleweight first earlier than difficult Canelo Alvarez for his three titles at 168.
“After that combat, he’s in all probability going to maneuver again right down to 154. Don’t overlook, imagine he struggled a bit towards [Israil] Madrimov. He struggled as a result of Madrimov is an effective fighter. He’s [Crawford] not an enormous 154-pounder, and don’t overlook. He got here up from 147, and earlier than that he was at 140. Earlier than that, he was at 135.
“To maneuver from 135 to 168 and win the unified world title. That will go down as one of many biggest victories of all time, however you understand Bud. He’s up for the problem. I feel it makes him the most effective fighter of our technology if he strikes up and beats Canelo Alvarez at 168.
I disagree with Hearn about Crawford not needing to earn the combat towards Canelo by combating at 168 first. He ought to must earn it as a result of how is that this truthful to contenders like Christian Mbilli, Diego Pacheco, and Caleb Plant?
It makes a joke of the game to see this line leaping happening. It’s tough to see boxing as an precise sport whenever you see fighters being permitted to maneuver up two weight courses and instantly be given a world title shot.
Crawford’s Resume
“He’s a four-division world champion,” Hearn stated about Crawford. “He’s an undisputed at 140 and 147. I think his wins at 140 weren’t as strong as. I mean, he beat everybody he had to. The Errol Spence victory obviously. Then, moving to 154. Madrimov is a very good fighter. You can always question people’s resumes, but Terence, for sure, is one of the greatest fighters of all time.”
Crawford’s resume at 147 and 140 was weak as water, consisting of wins towards this lackluster bunch:
Errol SpenceJose Benavidez Jr.David AvanesyanJeff HornShawn PorterKell BrookAmir KhanEgidijus KavaliauskasJulius IndongoFelix DiazJohn Molina Jr.Viktor PostolHenry LundyDerry JeanThomas Dulorme
Porter, Brook, Khan, and Spence had been all around the hill by the point Crawford fought them. They had been nowhere close to what they’d been throughout the prime of their careers. The one one on the elite stage of that group was Spence, and he wasn’t the identical fighter after 2018.
That was the final yr of the classic, prime model of Spence. Crawford acquired the ruined model of Spence after his automotive crash, two years out of the ring, and weight drained.
“He [Turki Al-Sheikh] has a very high success rate. So, you have to think there’s a very good chance that fight [Canelo vs. Crawford] is going to happen. I think it’s a very intriguing fight between two generational greats. I think it’s very difficult for Bud to move up that high in weight, but if anyone can do it, it might be him,” stated Hearn.
Canelo Too A lot At 168
Crawford can’t transfer up 14 lbs from 154 to defeat Canelo at 168. It’s not going to occur. Crawford can be 38 in September, and he’s NOT Floyd Mayweather Jr, and even when he had been, he would nonetheless be out of his league as a result of Canelo is now not 22 years outdated and won’t be weight-drained combating at 152. That’s how outdated Canelo was when Mayweather fought him at a catch-weight of 152.
“His movement and IQ is second to none, but it’s difficult when you’re facing Canelo Alvarez up there. It’s not just 168. On the night, it’s probably 180, 185. It’s going to be a big task,” stated Hearn about what Crawford is up towards.
