Canelo Alvarez has competed against some of the best fighters across weight divisions, including middleweight.
He has had some memorable fights in the division, including his trilogy against the now-retired Kazakh great Gennady ‘GGG’ Golovkin.
Now, a whole different puzzle at the weight above is posed by Terence Crawford in September, who dares to be great in a division two classes above his last bout.
Canelo may not be the same fighter who put on those high-paced performances against ‘GGG’ but he is not being counted out.
Former Canelo opponent Daniel Jacobs predicts close fight but edges towards Terence Crawford
Daniel Jacobs is torn between the two competitors after having shared the ring with the Mexican and having experienced Crawford in training for years.
But he has given the edge to Omaha’s favourite son.
He said: “(Crawford) He’s a dog, he’s a beast… Canelo obviously is self-explanatory, there is no need to go down the rabbit hole when it comes to him.
“But I do see this fight being a 50/50, but if I was a betting man, I would bet on Crawford, but also too you can’t count Canelo out, he would go in, assuming, as the favourite.”
Jacobs took the then-unified middleweight champion the distance but was beaten on the cards when it was all said and done.
He gave his expert view on how ‘Bud’ can approach the contest and achieve victory.
He explained: “Well, I can see in increments because Canelo, I have always said, is an amazing legendary fighter, but he fights in spurts.
“So sometimes it takes for the opponents to actually initiate him, giving the best. (Crawford may) Push the pressure, make Canelo fight, or play it safe and win on points.
Daniel Jacobs stopped once in 42 fights by an undefeated, unknown Russian technician
The ‘Miracle Man’ retired in 2024 after losing a unanimous decision to the son of boxing legend Shane Mosley.
His story was all the more incredible after being diagnosed with a rare bone cancer (osteosarcoma), beating it, and making a full recovery to return to the ring.
New York’s own left the ring with only five losses in a 42-fight career and only one stoppage in those defeats.
Undefeated former world champion Dmitry Pirog was unheard of outside of his native Russia and upset the American with a chopping right hand in the fifth round, to lay him out cold.
But due to a back injury, the Russian had to retire, but he remained undefeated with a 20-0 record and a world title to his name.
Crawford may have the dream end to his career if he can beat Alvarez, remain undefeated, and retire, which would be one of the great boxing feats of the modern era.
