“He told me boxing is all about IQ; it’s not about how tough you are.” Ahead of his third professional bout, Mohammed Alakel told a reporter. He was talking about the lessons he received from the boxing guru, the great Roberto Duran. And the young prospect from Saudi Arabia followed the instructions thoroughly, scoring a clear victory on the Beterbiev-Bivol card in Riyadh. Expectations are high as the talented fighter steps into the ring for the fourth time this year.

On the Canelo-Crawford headlined Netflix super-card, Mohammed Alakel will face Travis Kent Crawford. Initial reports had Alakel’s name against John Ornelas. However, with Kent Crawford stepping in, the fight appears to have undergone a last-minute change. For a fighter who made his debut less than 12 months ago, the bout is critical if he has to make headway into the top rankings. So ahead of the exciting clash, let’s check out how Mohammed Alakel and Travis Kent Crawford measure up against each other.

Predicting Mohammed Alakel vs. Travis Kent Crawford: Who has better stats and a record?

The American fighter has a clear lead as far as the battle of experience goes. Though just a year older than Mohammed Alakel, Travis Kent Crawford has been fighting professionally since 2022. Fairly consistent, he has accumulated a 7-4 record. With only 2 of his victories secured via early stoppage, his knockout-to-win rate stands at 29%. Likewise, one of his losses ended inside the distance.

Alakel rides on the back of a 5-fight win streak. Marking his professional debut on the Beterbiev-Bivol 1 last October, he secured his first knockout victory on the Nick Ball-Sam Goodman card. He knocked out Yumnam Santosh Singh in the opening round.

So, keeping aside Kent Crawford’s losses, both fighters stand on equal footing when it comes to fight stoppages.

Alakel vs. Kent Crawford: Height, weight, reach comparison, and more

Though the reach details for both Alakel and Kent Crawford remain unavailable, not much of a difference appears in terms of their heights. Standing 5 feet and 9 inches, or 175 centimeters tall, the American is just an inch taller than his Saudi Arabian counterpart, who boasts a 5-foot and 8-inch, or 173-centimeter, height.

The final weigh-ins of the event are yet to take place. However, the weights Alakel and Kent Crawford registered during their last fights should provide some insights. The former tipped the scale at 132 pounds when he faced Yumnam Santosh Singh. On the other hand, Travis Kent Crawford weighed 130.5 pounds ahead of the match against Jorge Ramos.

Fight Prediction

Considering his performance, fighting style, and pedigree, Mohammed Alakel remains the heavy favorite to win. The KO victory over Santhosh Singh has augmented the Saudi fighter’s reputation. Under award-winning trainer Joe Gallagher’s tutelage, Alakel has been honing his skills alongside former world champion Natasha Jones. Things haven’t looked good for Travis Kent Crawford. His last two bouts ended in losses.

Fans can expect the American to lunge forward and disrupt Alakel’s rhythm. It’s the first ten-round bout for both Alakel and Kent Crawford. So it will be interesting to see how the young prospects fare once the fight goes the distance. Whether the two are able to produce fireworks in between remains a million-dollar question.

If Mohammed Alakel wins, who would want him to face next?