Former multi-division world champion Mikey Garcia has expressed his concerns over the potential showdown between Terence Crawford and Canelo Alvarez, questioning the logic behind Crawford’s move to challenge the super middleweight champion.
Garcia believes that the weight difference between Crawford and Canelo presents a significant challenge for the undefeated Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs), especially after his struggle in a recent move to 154 pounds against Israil Madrimov. According to Garcia, Crawford, who only recently transitioned up to junior middleweight, should focus on unifying the 154-pound division rather than taking on the heavier Canelo (62-2-2, 39 KOs) at 168 pounds.
“I think Canelo wins that fight just based on power and size. Skill-wise, Crawford is a better-skilled fighter, but the size difference will be the deciding factor,” Garcia told Fight Hub TV. He added that he was not a fan of the proposed fight due to the “big size mismatch,” noting that Canelo’s superior power would likely outweigh Crawford’s technical ability.
A Fight for Money, Not Legacy
While Garcia acknowledges the commercial appeal of a fight between Crawford and Canelo, he suggests that financial gain, rather than legacy, primarily motivates the matchup. Crawford’s pursuit of the Canelo fight seems driven by the lucrative payday it would offer, rather than the challenge of moving up through the weight classes to fight the champions at 160 pounds, where there is less money involved.
“If Crawford were focused on legacy, he would move up to 160 pounds and fight the champions there, but there’s no money in those fights,” Garcia said. “Canelo is the one who brings the big payday.”
Garcia went on to praise Crawford’s accomplishments in the 140 to 154-pound divisions, asserting that he has done enough at those weights. However, he doubts that Crawford should attempt to fight Canelo, particularly given his recent struggles at junior middleweight.
“If Crawford wants to keep fighting, he can attempt to collect more belts at 154 pounds,” Garcia explained. “But there’s no money in that compared to a fight with Canelo.”
The Money Factor
The money factor also plays a significant role in why Crawford is pursuing the Canelo fight. According to Garcia, external financial backers, such as Turki Al-Sheikh, have influenced Crawford and made this lucrative fight possible. Without these connections, Garcia believes that Canelo would not entertain a bout with Crawford.
“As a fight fan, I’m not a fan of that match-up,” Garcia continued. “I’d rather see Canelo fight better opponents like Artur Beterbiev or Dmitry Bivol at 175 pounds, rather than a smaller guy like Crawford moving up.”
Crawford’s Future
Garcia also mentioned that Crawford’s future could be more fruitful at 154 pounds, where he has a better chance of facing less dangerous, yet still challenging, opponents like WBC and WBO junior middleweight champion Sebastian Fundora. However, moving up to challenge younger and more powerful fighters like IBF champion Bakhram Murtazaliev or WBC interim champion Vergil Ortiz Jr. could put Crawford’s career at risk, according to Garcia.
“Those guys are younger and more powerful than him,” Garcia said, noting that they would be looking to add Crawford’s scalp to their collection. “It would be a fine trophy for them.”
In conclusion, Mikey Garcia’s assessment highlights the commercial nature of the proposed Crawford vs. Canelo fight, but he remains skeptical of its merits for Crawford’s legacy and competitive standing. As the boxing world watches this potential matchup unfold, Garcia’s words suggest that the best course for Crawford may lie in focusing on the 154-pound division rather than moving up for a high-stakes but mismatched bout with Canelo.
