Demetrius Andrade believes Canelo Alvarez is too big, strong and technical for Terence Crawford to step up to super middleweight and challenge him for his three titles in the way he strives for.
Very big, very strong
Former two-division world champion Andrade feels the size is too big for the 37-year-old Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) to move up two weight classes from 154 for a chance to defeat WBA, WBC and WBO 168 champion Canelo Canelo (62-2-2) , 39 KOs).
Crawford, a Nebraska native, is campaigning to move up to 168 to fight Canelo with no weight class experience first. He just wants to give him the world title without first introducing himself by beating the top contenders waiting in line, such as David Morell, David Benavidez, Christian Mbili and Diego Pacheco.
It wouldn't be a problem if Terence was willing to earn a title shot by beating these four fighters standing in front of him, but he doesn't want to do that. He wants Canelo to correct him based on his credentials from what he has done in other weight classes.
If you look at Crawford's resume, there's not much to see with the naked eye other than overcoming a car accident, which was ruined by the injury-ravaged Errol Spence. The other semi-decent win on Crawford's resume came against Israel Madrimov, but he almost lost to him and looked poor, eating with his right hand all night.
Crawford moved up to 154 last summer on August 3, and was eliminated with a narrow 12-round unanimous decision win over Madrimov. This was a fight that Terrence could have easily lost if Madrimov had put his foot on the accelerator in the final three rounds of choice pitching. Even in defeat, Madrimov made Crawford look old and made it clear he had reached the ceiling of his ambition. He cannot go from 154 to 160 or 168 without losing.
Canelo advantages
“Yes, I think so. I like Crawford. He's a good friend, and we get along with each other. But when it comes to weight and strength, it's real,” Demetrius Andrade said. Combat Center TV When asked if Canelo Alvarez is too big for Terence Crawford.
“Skills too. Canelo's not easy. Look what he did to the little girl (Jermell) Charlo. Charlo was the big bad wolf and he ran all night off two hooks. Canelo threw some hooks, ran all night. Where's that (intensity and courage)? Let's fight .
“I think Crawford has the skills, but when it comes to hitting and blocking shots, the shots are powerful, and Canelo knows how to move as well. He has agility. He's not like a robot. It's going to be difficult. My opinion is my opinion,” Andrade said. “He can beat Canelo.”
Crawford is too young to fight at 168 against Canelo. The fight will be all about the money, and will be similar to what happened when Canelo defended his super middleweight title against Jermell Charlo last year in September. Jermell moved up from 154 and earned a title shot against Canelo without proving himself.
He ran all night after feeling Canelo's power in the first round, and the crowd was upset afterward. It was a joke. Had Jermell tried to prove himself by fighting Benavidez or Morel, he would have been eliminated in a one-sided loss or knockout defeat, and fans wouldn't have been upset to see him get to Canelo. In the real world, Crawford would have to earn a title shot against Canelo like the other contenders, but he's looking for a shortcut to get the giant payday. It's pathetic and wrong for this sport.
“Do I think he can give him a good fight? I'll sit there cheering for Crawford all day long,” Andrade said of Crawford. “I'll always bet on black, always, but the truth is Canelo knows how to fight. He knows how to go strong, and he knows how to hit hard.
“He's a technical guy too. Look what he did with Callum Smith, hitting elbows, hitting arms, all those other kinds of things. He'll use the same tactics on someone smaller (Crawford). I'm just saying. I'm just talking about the real facts of boxing.” “I'm not trying to be in this fantasy world because that's not what I'm in,” Andrade said.
