Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Terence Crawford have got a lot to lose for different reasons.
For both men, to lose this fight is not a good look and it’s not going to be good for their legacies.
Do I think their legacies and what they’ve done prior to this should be wiped out with a loss? No, but you know how this goes.
This is the last thing that people are going to remember and it’s the thing that they’re never going to let you forget about.
This is a bona fide once-in-a-generation super-fight.
It’s a match-up that commands attention.
Alvarez is the face of boxing and has never been beaten down or dominated. He may have draws and losses on his record, but there are explanations – moving up in weight or nights where he felt he could have got the nod.
He didn’t have an amateur career but learned his craft as a pro, debuting at just 15.
Now 35, he talks as if he wants to continue fighting for another five to ten years, but the signs suggest he is winding down. What’s certain is he won’t want another blemish.
Although Alvarez may be the name most casual fans know, make no mistake – this is no crossroads fight.
Alvarez has more miles on the clock, but Crawford, who turns 38 shortly after the fight, is the older man. He’s been around a long time and had a long amateur career too.
The weight disparity, and what Crawford is attempting – moving up two divisions to chase a third undisputed crown – only adds to the allure.
I’m not a betting man, but it’s hard to bet against Crawford. It’s later than it should have been, but he is finally getting recognition as an all-time great.
He has never lost, yet there has to be a blueprint to beat him. Can Alvarez be the one to find it?