Terence Crawford’s Potential to run Against Canelo Alvarez

Caleb Plant brought up the possibility of Terence Crawford making Saturday’s superfight with Canelo Alvarez a “snoozer” if he “gets hit” early by the Mexican star on September 13 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

The Strategy for Survival

The former IBF super middleweight champion Plant said that with Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs), the smaller guy coming up two to three weight classes after just one less-than-convincing performance at 154 in 2024, he may choose to move around all night.

Crawford’s trainer, Brian ‘BoMac’ McIntyre, mentioned that they’re using Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Dmitry Bivol as the two blueprints on how Bud will beat Canelo. That means Crawford will utilize these tactics:

• Frequent holding
• Step back approach
• Hit and run

That is a very real possibility that Crawford will do that, because he’s always been a mover during his career, except when pitted against slower fighters or those he had had a massive advantage over going in.

“If anyone would make it a snoozer, it’s Terence because he’s the smaller guy. He gets hit, he may start moving around,” said Caleb Plant to Ring Magazine.

Will Fans Turn on Crawford?

If Crawford does choose to go into full Jerry-mode, running all night, the fans at Allegiant Stadium will predictably boo loudly, voicing their displeasure at the fight being dull. Crawford seemed happy with being booed at Thursday’s final press conference, encouraging the fans to boo even more. He had the same reaction at Wednesday’s Grand Arrivals in Las Vegas.

Turki Alalshikh should have included a fail-safe in his contract by offering him bonus money if he doesn’t run.

Moreover, Turki should have put Crawford’s feet to the fire by ordering him to run this little gauntlet first in the 13 months he’s been inactive before he could face Canelo:

• Christian Mbilli
• Osleys Iglesias
• Yoenli Hernandez

If Crawford didn’t run against those three fighters, there’s an excellent chance he wouldn’t run against Canelo. However, he’d be crazy not to go into Jerry mode because I believe all three of those fighters would beat Crawford if he’s stationary. They’re too young, too big, and too powerful for him.

“I’m leaning toward Canelo. I think he’s used to the stage. I feel that comfortability as far as weight and activity. Canelo has been active. It’s hard to be on your A-game when you haven’t fought in over a year, especially when you fight top level,” said Gabe Rosado to Fight Hub TV, choosing Canelo Alvarez to defeat Terence Crawford. “It’s just that timing. Activity gets you timing.”