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Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford: What would a statement win mean to either boxing superstar's legacy?
There is more than Canelo Alvarez’ undisputed super middleweight world championship on the line tonight at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas where he will defend the crown against Terence Crawford.
Each boxing superstar already owns a Hall of Fame body of work, but their legacy is still at stake. So what would a statement victory mean to either man’s legacy?
Let’s start with the champ.
Leigh Dawney/Queensberry
If Canelo were to deliver a resounding knockout or win comfortably via unanimous decision, it would mean he defeated the perceived pound-for-pound best of his generation in Crawford, the first male boxer to have been crowned undisputed in two different weight classes (super lightweight and welterweight).
A 23-year-old version of the Mexican sensation was not able to figure out the boxing brilliance of Floyd Mayweather Jr. in September 2013 but if he is able to resolve the complexities of Crawford, it would signify a hallmark on his ledger.
It would also certify with another stamp that Alvarez is the greatest ever at 168 pounds, where he would improve his record to 12-0.
On the other hand, if ‘Bud’ were to deliver an electric performance and defeat Alvarez handily on the scorecards or via a shocking stoppage, it would put the Omaha, Nebraska man in a class by himself.
Candice Ward/Getty Images for Netflix
No man has ever been crowned undisputed in three different weight classes. If Crawford is to accomplish that feat, having moved up 14 pounds to make 168, it would triple-certify his rare air as arguably the greatest of all time with an undefeated ledger and an undisputed achievement that nobody else — except Claressa Shields — can boast about.
Not Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Not Oleksandr Usyk.
Not Naoya Inoue.
Crawford would be standing on a lone pillar of superiority that he constructed himself.
In the process, such a memorable victory, like the kind Crawford doled out to Errol Spence Jr. in July 2023, would undeniably damage Alvarez’ legacy. After all, Crawford climbed up two weight classes to make this bout happen with Canelo at super middleweight, where the Mexican icon is 11-0. In that regard, Alvarez has more to lose than Crawford who is trying to navigate unchartered territory so a loss for 'Bud' would still mean he dared to be greater, came up short, but still tried.
Overall, yes, Alvarez’ four world titles are up for grabs.
But the impact that an emphatic win would have on each man’s legacy is undeniable.
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