UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping doesn’t like Terence Crawford’s chances against Canelo Alvarez.
Alvarez (63-2-2, 39 KOs) puts his undisputed super middleweight title on the line against the undefeated Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) on Saturday at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Crawford will be jumping up two weight classes, which has Bisping concerned.
“In this fight, Crawford is going to have to use the footwork. He’s going to have to dance around, let Canelo Alvarez come to him,” Bisping said on his YouTube channel. “And that’s what he does, that’s his style. He’s got beautiful footwork. He’s going to wait for Canelo to chase him down, and he’s going to look for Canelo to make mistakes. He’s going to look for Canelo to over-expose, to get frustrated, to wing in some wild shots, and when he throws, and he gets a little reckless, leaves the opening, that’s where Crawford is going to step in. But that’s a hard thing to do for 12 rounds, to dance around, to stay away, to be on your bike, to circle, to fight with a ridiculously high IQ.
“He does do that, but at some points, he’s going to have to stop and stand. This is a fight, after all, and if he’s going to win this fight, in Las Vegas, against Canelo Alvarez, the face of boxing, he’s got to stand and trade. He’s probably going to have to get the finish. There’s no way they’re going to give a decision against Canelo Alvarez unless it’s very, very one-sided. So, Canelo Alvarez is going to fight like he fights and, at some point, Crawford is going to have to stand and trade, as simple as that. And with Canelo being the bigger guy, with Canelo being the stronger guy, with Canelo being used to fighting and absorbing those kinds of punches and power, I think it’s a really tough task for Crawford.”
The former UFC middleweight champion expects Crawford to be faster and lighter on the feet but isn’t sure his power will translate against Canelo.
“Technically, I think Crawford is the better boxer, but size really does matter when it comes down to it,” Bisping said. “When it’s all said and done, can you hurt Canelo Alvarez? To do that, you’ve got to stand your ground, you’ve got to plant your feet into the canvas, you’ve got to load up on the shots. You can’t do that if you’re backing up and dancing around the all the time.”
If Crawford wins, he will become the first male champion to win an undisputed title in three weight classes in the four-belt era. However, Bisping doesn’t see “Bud” achieving the historic feat.
“If ‘Bud’ wins, it will be historic, it will be monumental, it will be something that never is forgotten about, but I don’t think it’s going to happen,” Bisping said. “Canelo Alvarez is the bigger guy. He’s the face of boxing. He’s fighting in Las Vegas. He’s the bigger, stronger guy. He’s got a good chin, he’s got the harder shots, he’s got the muscle to absorb it, and I think over 12 rounds with ‘Bud’s’ game plan, which is probably going to be stick and move, plant the feet on occasion, and look for big openings, but for the most part, he’s going to fight on the backfoot. … I think Canelo wins this fight, and I think he wins it via decision or a late stoppage.”
