Not too long-ago boxing would have one to three blockbuster fights a year. By blockbuster, I mean events which would transcend the sport. Not so recently the names of Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather Jr and Oscar De La Hoya would make the most of casual fans turn around and listen. They would cause appointment viewing with families planning the Saturday night if not a couple of weeks ahead, months if not from when the particular fight was announced.
If anything, we were guaranteed great fights twice a year, in May and September, whether from the likes of Julio Cesar Chavez and the aforementioned De La Hoya and Mayweather Jr.
Not much anymore.
Now we are lucky if we have a one of those events a year. A fight where there is some intrigue, perhaps even competitive. Don’t get me wrong, practically every week we have competitive fights, from four rounders to championship fights but they don’t include the biggest names of the sport.
They might be fights which have been built and marinated by promotors but they are fights which make the hardcore salivate not the fights which make the casual fan tune in.
This year’s blockbuster fight is scheduled for Saturday, September 13th, from the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, and broadcast live around the world on Netflix. Mexico’s own Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (63-2-2, 39KO) will defend all the titles at super middleweight against undefeated Terence “Bud” Crawford (41-0, 31KO) of Omaha, Nebraska.
On paper the fight does not look competitive at all. In the red corner we have Alvarez, 35, who despite beginning his career at 140 pounds at 15 years of age, has made his name and accomplished the most in his career at 168 pounds having unified the division. The 37-year-old Crawford made his name at twenty pounds lighter at welterweight having unified that division. Despite capturing two world titles at 154 pounds in his last fight, Crawford will be making the 14-pound leap to challenge Alvarez.
All that is on paper.
The paper doesn’t say Alvarez has not been the same since his best fights at middleweight, the controversial draw and majority win against Gennady Golovkin. The paper doesn’t say Alvarez has not really challenged himself against any true competitive opposition in his last 14 fights with only a handful true threats in the likes of Callum Smith, Caleb Plant, Dmitrii Bivol and Jaime Munguia.
In Crawford he faces a fresher, confident, undefeated fighter which can give Alvarez fits. Athletic, switch-hitting and intelligent, Crawford can very well hand Alvarez his third defeat.
Or the much heavier Alvarez could just knock Crawford out.
Other Musings
- It was reported in an earlier edition of this column WBA lightweight champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis would be announcing his retirement. That rumor was put to rest by Davis’ own team. It was announced this week Davis’ most recent run-in with the law; a domestic abuse pinch was dismissed. Expect an announcement of Davis’ next fight soon.
- Is Jake Paul really thinking of facing former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua? If so, the fight would transcend the sport. Talk about blockbuster.
- Following two deaths in the same week in Japan, the JPC (Japan Boxing Commission) is looking to reform some of their practices.
