Canelo Alvarez, the undisputed super middleweight champion, has declined the opportunity to defend his four titles against welterweight Terence Crawford in his upcoming fight on May 4th, which coincides with Cinco de Mayo. The rationale behind this decision is clear. Canelo believes that there would be no benefit in facing Crawford, who has never competed in the 168-pound division and therefore has not proven himself capable of challenging the immensely talented Canelo.
With Crawford out of contention and no negotiations taking place with Jermall Charlo, it seems that David Benavidez is being considered as a potential opponent for Canelo’s next fight on May 4th. This development is favorable for both fans and Benavidez, as he has persistently pursued a fight with Alvarez.
Canelo explains his refusal to face Crawford by stating that he would have everything to lose and nothing to gain from such a matchup. Winning against Crawford would likely be dismissed by critics who would attribute his victory to Crawford being too small. This would undermine Canelo’s credibility as a boxer. Additionally, Crawford’s age of 36 further diminishes the significance of defeating him, as it would be perceived as Canelo defeating an older opponent who is past his prime.
It is crucial for Canelo to avoid fighting smaller opponents in his future bouts to prevent the perception that he deliberately selects opponents from lower weight classes to prolong his career. If Canelo were to choose Crawford as his next opponent, it would tarnish his legacy, especially considering his success in the 168-pound division. However, it would be acceptable if Crawford were to move up to 168 and prove himself against other top contenders in the division.
It is evident that Crawford had no intention of facing any of the aforementioned fighters in order to earn a shot at Canelo. He simply desired the fight without putting in the necessary effort, which would not be well-received by boxing fans.
In his most recent fight, Canelo faced Jermell Charlo, a junior middleweight who moved up two weight classes to challenge him in September. Charlo proved to be no match for Canelo’s power and was unable to provide any significant competition.
According to the Source boxingnews24.com