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USA Today via Reuters

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USA Today via Reuters

Maybe not in history. However, it will certainly be the biggest fight of the era – or even the decade – if the Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford showdown becomes a reality. For the sport, the new year has started on a positive note. Fans can look forward to a plethora of exciting matchups, including some they’ve been eagerly anticipating for months or even years. One of the most awaited has been the Canelo-Crawford fight.

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Ever since Crawford demolished Errol Spence Jr.‘s challenge, talks of a showdown against one of the biggest names in boxing have been swirling. The narrative followed the familiar cycle of highs and lows – mostly lows – until last year. However, with His Excellency Turki Alalshikh finally intervening, the momentum apparently shifted in a positive direction. Reports confirm that talks are progressing toward a potential clash around the Mexican Independence Day weekend. Yet, doubts remain. Many experts and former champions are still uncertain about how Crawford will be able to leapfrog two weight divisions to face Alvarez. Among the skeptics is Mikey Garcia, the younger brother of Ring Magazine’s ‘Trainer of the Year’ award recipient, Robert Garcia.

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No particular enthusiasm for Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford

Fight Hub TV caught up with the former four-division world champion during his visit to Hamburg, Germany, for the WBC Convention. The reporter highlighted HE Turki Alalshikh’s statement. The Riyadh Season head had expressed his desire to make the Canelo-Crawford fight happen.

After reflecting for a moment, Mikey Garcia said, “I’m not a big fan of that fight.” His main concern centers around the significant weight disparity between Crawford and Canelo Alvarez. Before Crawford moved up to 154 pounds, the difference was equivalent to three weight classes.

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Robert Garcia’s brother also pointed out how Terence Crawford seemingly struggled against Israil Madrimov during their title fight in Los Angeles. Despite Crawford’s superior skills, Garcia believes the size difference will be the deciding factor in a potential showdown. The Mexican superstar’s power and size will likely give him the upper hand.

Appreciating Crawford’s stellar career, Garcia reiterated, “That’s why I’m not even a fan of that fight. I think Crawford has accomplished everything he had to accomplish, from 140 to 147 to now 154. That’s even greater for him.” If Crawford truly wants to push himself further, he could pursue the unified/undisputed route in his current division, he opined. However, there’s a catch: “But there’s no money in that.

Push forward, but ensure you’re moving in the right way

Mikey Garcia held a similar view regarding Canelo Alvarez. Garcia acknowledges that a fight between Canelo and Crawford would generate substantial revenue. But as a fight fan, he’s not in favor of the matchup. He would prefer to see Alvarez face fighters within his weight class or above, such as Artur Beterbiev or a rematch with Dmitry Bivol. “He wanted to challenge himself, move up to 175 again, and challenge himself against those guys. Yeah, not a smaller guy moving up you,” said Garcia.

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Those are strong views from someone who has been in the ring. These opinions are shared by several prominent figures, including Mike Tyson. For boxing legend Roy Jones Jr., like Mikey Garcia, Terence Crawford’s skills are undeniable. However, dealing with Alvarez’s size could prove to be a daunting challenge. “If Terence can deal with the size, he will beat him,” the legend stated during an interview with ‘Mill City Boxing.’

What about you? Does the weight difference between Terence Crawford and Canelo Alvarez concern you to the point where you’d rather not see the matchup happen?

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Jaideep R Unnithan

3,663 Articles

Jaideep R. Unnithan is a Senior Boxing Writer at EssentiallySports and one of the division’s most trusted voices. Since joining in October 2022, he has brought a deep love for the sport into every story, whether reporting on live bouts with the ES LiveEvent Desk or unpacking the legacy of fighters from different eras as part of the features desk. Trained under EssentiallySports’ prestigious Journalistic Excellence Program, which is a specialized training initiative designed to refine top writers' skills through mentorship and advanced sports journalism techniques, Jaideep’s writing reflects a quiet authority shaped by two years of covering boxing’s flashpoints and fault lines. He is drawn to the warrior code of legends like Alexis Argüello and Marvin Hagler, while also staying attuned to the promise of rising stars like Jesse 'Bam' Rodriguez, David Benavidez, and Dmitry Bivol. Jaideep has a special fascination with Naoya Inoue’s old-school grit. Beyond writing, he reads widely, a habit that sharpens his storytelling, whether he’s tracing the rhythm of a classic fight or preparing his next ringside dispatch. Before joining EssentiallySports, Jaideep worked as a client manager and team manager in corporate roles, bringing strong organizational and communication skills to his journalistic career. He has also completed notable certifications, including a Non-Fiction Book Writing Workshop.

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Gokul Pillai

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