Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford Keys to Victory: Breaking down tactics of each fighter

With the help of His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, Terence Crawford brought his dream of moving up two weight classes to clash with Canelo Alvarez into fruition.

It all culminates tonight at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, where Crawford will challenge for Alvarez’ undisputed super middleweight world championship. A win and Crawford will become the first man in boxing history to claim undisputed crowns in three different weight classes. (Claressa Shields already accomplished the feat in women’s boxing).

Alvarez (63-2-2, 39 KOs) and Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) have padded Hall of Fame resumes already as two of the all-time best.

But now it is time to decide the best of this generation.

Will Alvarez prove that he is unbeatable at 168 pounds, making it 12-0 in the division at Crawford’s expense? Or will ‘Bud’ show the world that he is this era’s best and arguably the all-time GOAT with a rousing victory?

With the stakes for this super fight incredibly high, DAZN News analyzes the Keys to Victory for both Canelo and Crawford.

Canelo Alvarez’ Keys to Victory

Cut off the ring, walk Crawford down

With age, Canelo Alvarez has become a more patient fighter but make no mistakes about it — he is going to try to walk opponents down with deliberate, heavy footing, while imposing his will and skill.

Considering Crawford is a newcomer to the super middleweight division where he reigns as king, the onus will especially be on the Mexican sensation to walk ‘Bud’ down and take the fight to him.

Unload to the body

Another way for Alvarez to unceremoniously welcome Crawford to 168 pounds is by force-feeding him a buffet of body punches.

Alvarez is one of the best in boxing at sitting on his body punches, leveraging maximum impact with every shot.

Catching Crawford clean to the ribs and liver should give Alvarez valuable reads on how ‘Bud’ is able to withstand his power.

Those rattling shots to the midsection can also go ways to hindering Crawford’s movement as the fight goes on.

Hit Crawford’s arms, hook upstairs

Canelo shrewdly batters opponents arms, forcing opponents to lower them enough over the course of a fight.

When those arms drop even ever so slightly, Alvarez seizes opportunities with left and right hooks around opponents’ lax guards.

These shots can come within the flow of his offense or as thunderous counterpunches, resulting in everything from flash knockdowns to worse if opponents are not vigilant.

Combining these keys could be the blueprint to handing Crawford his first pro defeat.

Chris Unger/TKO Worldwide LLC via Getty Images

Terence Crawford’s Keys to Victory

Use footwork, switch stances with spacing

Terence Crawford’s ability to use his nimble feet to not only switch stances from southpaw to orthodox but also to bounce in and out of the pocket, punishing Canelo Alvarez with slicing output, is a crucial key for the pound-for-pound star.

Alvarez has flat, heavy feet as he stalks his way forward. If Crawford uses his feet to create spacing and unique angles, it could spell major problems for the Mexican superstar, who will be forced to work diligently to catch 'Bud.'

Make Canelo pay with sharp, timed counterpunching

Another strong point to Crawford’s fight game is his sharp, timed counterpunching skills.

If opponents swing and miss, ‘Bud’ is going to make them pay dearly.

We witnessed this prowess on full display during Crawford’s electric ninth-round TKO of Errol Spence in July 2023 to crown him the undisputed welterweight king.

Though Alvarez does not make many mistakes with a high ring IQ himself, Crawford’s boxing brilliance can create the green lights and avenues to uncork the precise counterpunches needed to score points and bank rounds.

Grow as the aggressor, dictate the fighting flow

There is a blueprint for how to beat Canelo Alvarez as Floyd Mayweather Jr. in September 2013 and Dmitry Bivol in May 2022 did not run from the Mexican warrior.

They stood in front of him and kept a prodding jab in his face all night and Crawford can do the same toward arguably more explosive results.

‘Bud’ has the kind of scintillating punch palette and placement where he could pepper, punish and maybe, just maybe make Canelo taste the canvas for the first time in his career toward his greatest career-defining victory yet.

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