Canelo vs. Crawford
In a time in which gimmick fights are grabbing more headlines, it is refreshing to see a good bout like Canelo vs. Crawford. This one is so good and so hyped, in fact, that it will be held at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas with a capacity of over 70,000 for boxing matches.
This one takes place on Saturday, September 13 and the main event with Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford will be preceded by eight other fights, including a title fight between Christian M’billi and Lester Martinez and undefeated Irishman Callum Walsh against Fernando Vargas Jr.
This is the first fight card and big promotional event for Zuffa Boxing, a joint venture between Dana White of UFC fame and Turki Al-Sheikh, a well-known promoter from the General Entertainment Authority in Saudi Arabia.
How To Watch Canelo vs. Crawford
How: Netflix
When: Saturday, September 13
Where: Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, NV
Canelo vs. Crawford Odds
Canelo -165 // Crawford +145
Total: 10.5 Rounds (-365/300)
Odds from Circa Sportsbook as of Monday, September 8 at 7 p.m. PT
Canelo vs. Crawford Preview
Safe to say it will be a very pro-Canelo crowd in Sin City, as this fight takes place on Mexican Independence Weekend. Honking vehicles playing loud music while proudly displaying the Mexican flag can be seen and heard up and down the Strip and there are many other pockets of celebration around the Las Vegas Valley.
The Mexican-born Canelo enters with a 63-2-2 record, including 39 knockouts, and he’ll be looking to deal Crawford his first career loss. The Omaha, NE native is 41-0 with 31 knockouts in his career. Even though it feels like Canelo has been around forever, the favorite and undisputed middleweight champion is actually almost three years younger than Crawford.
Crawford is actually jumping up a couple of weight classes here to fight at 168 pounds. The former national championship boxer at lightweight and professional champion at lightweight, light welterweight, welterweight, and light middleweight is now looking to stake his claim to another title.
Canelo’s two career losses have been at different weight classes, as he lost to Floyd Mayweather Jr. nearly 12 years ago to the day for the light middleweight title by majority decision and in Vegas in 2022 when he stepped up to light heavyweight and lost by unanimous decision to Dmitry Bivol.
Crawford’s last fight in August 2024 was his first non-finish since July 2016, as he had several TKOs and one retirement in between. Given that Canelo has never been knocked out and the odds are very heavily slanted towards Over 10.5 Rounds, it seems like he’s probably in line for his second straight decision. Also, Canelo hasn’t had a knockout since the fight just before his Bivol loss, which happened back in 2022. He only has four knockouts in 11 career fights at 168 pounds.
Canelo vs. Crawford Prediction
Canelo is more used to fighting at this weight class, but Crawford has had no issues with the moves up that he has made and it is probably easier at his age (37) to not have to deal with a weight cut. The biggest question is how fast Crawford will be at the increased size. Will he be able to leverage his reach and take smart, calculated shots while still playing the chess match that Canelo is looking for?
Crawford’s the far more aggressive thrower by volume, so it makes sense that some are concerned about the weight increase and how he fares in the later rounds. History would tell us that he’ll be just fine and it says a lot that this is Canelo’s smallest favorite role in a very long time.
Pick: Terence Crawford (+145)
