\u2018Head was cooking\u2019: Aussie loses voice, eyesight in horror weight cut that prompted big change<\/a><\/p>\nCanelo Alvarez poses with his belts before facing Terence Crawford, a fellow boxing great jumping two weight classes.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
HOW DIFFICULT IS CRAWFORD\u2019S RISE IN WEIGHT?<\/p>\n
Huge.<\/p>\n
Despite having already become an undisputed champion in two divisions, the American superstar is now effectively moving up three weight classes \u2013 or 10kg \u2013 for this shot.<\/p>\n
Only once has Crawford fought at even super welterweight.<\/p>\n
That was in August last year, when he scored a decision win over Israil Madrimov, who was the reigning WBA champ.<\/p>\n
But now Bud is moving up two divisions again, and against a fighter who himself holds all four major straps.<\/p>\n
As revealed earlier this week by Fox Sports Australia, the man helping Crawford bulk up for the biggest fight of his career is Australia\u2019s Gavin Pratt, who doubles as Director of Strength and Conditioning at the UFC Performance Institute.<\/p>\n
The move is a huge ask for Crawford, who could have stayed at 147 pounds and fought, say, Jaron \u2018Boots\u2019 Ennis, or chased other belts. Another option was to try and become undisputed at middleweight. <\/p>\n
Instead, he is going all in against boxing\u2019s most bankable name.<\/p>\n
Canelo Alvarez (L) and Terence Crawford (R) face off in Las Vegas.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
IS THIS REALLY \u2018FIGHT OF THE CENTURY\u2019?<\/p>\n
Wouldn\u2019t be our pick, no.<\/p>\n
While Sunday\u2019s showdown is an undeniable slobberknocker, it\u2019s hard to argue for it even being the biggest of the modern era \u2013 especially ahead of that 2015 showdown between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.<\/p>\n
Same deal for Mayweather\u2019s 2017 bout against UFC megastar Conor McGregor, a fight which generated 4.3 million pay-per-view buys and upwards of $900 million in total revenue.<\/p>\n
Yet it\u2019s worth noting that, despite the hype surrounding each of those events, Mayweather handed Pacquiao a lopsided decision loss in the first fight and effectively carried McGregor for as long as he could tolerate in the second. <\/p>\n
There is no doubting this fight, as far as spectacles go, could smash both.<\/p>\n
WILL THE WINNER BE CROWNED NO.1 POUND-FOR-POUND?<\/p>\n
Um, that all depends on who wins.<\/p>\n
Should Crawford move up two weight classes and become the undisputed champion of a third division \u2026 will, how the bloody hell do you argue against him going above Naoya Inoue and Oleksandr Usyk?<\/p>\n
But if Canelo defends against the smaller man, that isn\u2019t the same thing.<\/p>\n
Currently, ESPN has the Mexican megastar ranked No.8 P4P.<\/p>\n
A win would likely push him into most people\u2019s top five.<\/p>\n
Canelo Alvarez fights William Scull earlier this year.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
WHAT CHANCE A KO BONUS FROM TURKI?<\/p>\n
If we had to bet the farm, we\u2019d wager on this fight going the distance.<\/p>\n
Sure, Saudi promoter Turki Al-Sheikh is offering up a lucrative KO bonus if one man sparks out the other.<\/p>\n
But Canelo he has one of the fight game\u2019s greatest chins.<\/p>\n
With Crawford\u2019s challenge also made that much harder by his significant rise in weight.<\/p>\n
Which may explain why Bud is paying $9 for a finish.<\/p>\n
Alvarez, meanwhile, is less than half that to do the same, or $4.<\/p>\n
However it should be noted the superstar has had every one of his past seven fights go the distance, with his most recent finish against Caleb Plant in 2021.<\/p>\n
Speaking on his YouTube channel this week however, Australia\u2019s George Kambosos insisted Canelo would not only win, but get it done inside the distance.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are weight divisions in boxing for a reason,\u201d the former champ said. \u201cAnd (with Crawford) coming up all the way to super middleweight when you\u2019ve fought at welterweight, junior welterweight, lightweight as well \u2026 I\u2019m going Canelo by stoppage.\u201d<\/p>\n
WHERE IS THE EVENT BEING HELD?<\/p>\n
Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas.<\/p>\n
A joint which, dubbed the Death Star, and home to the Las Vegas Raiders, also now plays host to the travelling NRL roadshow when rugby league starts its season in the world\u2019s entertainment capital. <\/p>\n
According to those on the ground, Sunday\u2019s fight is approaching a 65,000 sellout.<\/p>\n
Previously, the biggest Las Vegas boxing crowd is 29,214.<\/p>\n
That occurred when Larry Holmes and Gerry Cooney threw down in a specifically-created outdoor arena at Caesars Palace in 1982.<\/p>\n
Terence Crawford after his 9th round TKO of Errol Spence Jr.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
WHAT ARE THE BOOKIES SAYING?<\/p>\n
Unsurprisingly, Alvarez is short with the oddsmakers.<\/p>\n
At the time of writing, the Mexican superstar was a $1.58 TAB favourite, with Crawford $2.40.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, SportsBet have Canelo paying slightly wider, $1.62, with Crawford $2.50.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s worth noting Alvarez has not been an underdog since 2018, and his second fight with Gennady Golovkin.<\/p>\n
Yet there are still plenty of big boxing names backing \u2018Bud\u2019, among them the likes of Teddy Atlas, Amir Khan, Devin Haney, Shakur Stevenson, even Australia\u2019s Tim Tszyu.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think Crawford can hurt Canelo,\u201d Tszyu said recently. \u201cHe has variety, and the shots that you don\u2019t see coming.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think he can do damage.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn my opinion, from the way Canelo has looked in his last couple of fights, I think Crawford wins.\u201d<\/p>\n
Canelo Alvarez (L) and Terence Crawford face off.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
WHO ELSE CAN WIN BIG IN LAS VEGAS ON SUNDAY?<\/p>\n
Apart from the fans? Undeniably, UFC boss Dana White.<\/p>\n
With around 100 fighters already said to be signed to his new Zuffa Boxing stable, Canelo-Crawford will be White\u2019s official debut as the newest heavyweight player in boxing.<\/p>\n
Of course, much is still to play out before his new life as a Sweet Science promoter begins in earnest.<\/p>\n
Most notably, a new bill is currently working its way through US Congress which would allow enough change to the Ali Act for White to create a boxing league similar to the UFC.<\/p>\n
With White\u2019s new foray being bankrolled by His Excellency, there is talk of Zuffa Boxing holding at least four massive events each year, with smaller tournaments then modelled around his Dana White Contender Series.<\/p>\n
Stay tuned.<\/p>\n
Turki Alalshikh and Dana White.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
WHAT ABOUT ON THE UNDERCARD?<\/p>\n
Already, there is plenty of hype building around unbeaten Irish prospect Callum Walsh, who is coached by Freddy Roach, mentored by Dana White and has UFC star Tabatha Ricci as his partner.<\/p>\n
Due to all this, and more, Walsh (14-0, 11KOs) has been given the coveted co-main spot against undefeated Fernando Vargas Jnr.<\/p>\n
The son of a boxing star, Vargas Jnr is undefeated in 17 bouts, winning 15 via KO.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, expect plenty of action when interim WBC super middleweight champ Christian Mbilli throws down against Lester Martinez. The winner of that fight could also potentially challenge whoever triumphs in the main event.<\/p>\n
Mbilli (29-0, 24KOS) has stopped four of his past five opponents, and will be looking to do the same against an undefeated Martinez (19-0, 16KOs).<\/p>\n
HOW DO I WATCH?<\/p>\n
Sunday\u2019s fight is being shown on Netflix, with the live stream to start at 11am (AEST).<\/p>\n
The event headlines a huge weekend for Australian fight fans, with UFC Noche also taking place in the United States on the same day \u2013 with the main event having potential title ramifications for Alexander Volkanovski.<\/p>\n
That involves a massive showdown between UFC featherweight contenders Jean Silva and Diego Lopes, the latter of whom lost a title fight to Volk earlier this year.<\/p>\n
Intriguingly, Australia\u2019s Liam Paro will also potentially get an early look at his future on Sunday morning.<\/p>\n
Next Thursday in Brisbane, Paro throws down in an IBF welterweight title eliminator against France\u2019s undefeated David Papot.<\/p>\n
Exactly who the winner faces will be decided this Sunday, when Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan face off in Belfast for the vacant title. That bout will be shown live on DAZN from 4am.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, Japanese megastar Naoya Inoue also fights Sunday, defending all four super bantamweight straps against Uzbekistan\u2019s Murodjon Akhmadaliev.<\/p>\n
Canelo Alvarez (L) and Terence Crawford (R) shake hands ahead of their fight.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
CANELO v CRAWFORD FULL CARD<\/p>\n
Netflix Main Card<\/p>\n
Saul \u2018Canelo\u2019 Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford \u2013 12 rounds (super middleweight)<\/p>\n
Callum Walsh vs. Fernando Vargas Jr \u2013 10 rounds (super welterweight)<\/p>\n
Christian Mbili vs. Lester Martinez \u2013 10 rounds (super middleweight)<\/p>\n
Mohammed Alakel vs. Travis Kent Crawford \u2013 10 rounds (catchweight)<\/p>\n
YouTube preliminaries<\/p>\n
Serhii Bohachuk vs. Brandon Adams \u2013 10 rounds (catchweight)<\/p>\n
Ivan Dychko vs. Jermaine Franklin \u2013 10 rounds (heavyweight)<\/p>\n
Reito Tsutsumi vs. Javier Martinez \u2013 6 rounds (super featherweight)<\/p>\n
Sultan Almohamed vs. Martin Caraballo \u2013 4 rounds (super lightweight)<\/p>\n
Steven Nelson vs. Raiko Santana \u2013 10 rounds \u2013 (light heavyweight)<\/p>\n
Marco Verde vs. Marcos Osorio-Betancourt \u2013 6 rounds (super middleweight)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It\u2019s been hailed \u2018The Fight of the Century\u2019 \u2014 which isn\u2019t exactly subtle. And nor should it be.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":137096,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[571],"tags":[2095,43757,64,63,689,75772,91245,802,94356,84725,94339,2742,11870,91240,94331,94349,651,93381,957,94319,4736,94329,958,94335,94344,13412,89006,94350,44864,33003,94343,94322,800,2057,94334,94327,6764,61519,26700,2592,94340,94320,94325,2105,94346,94024,94333,94354,94345,9225,44862,94321,94351,94323,94330,2623,94326,30028,94347,94358,94328,94359,94332,8199,13409,2627,2782,2041,2067,677,94336,668,701,159,94353,13417,85,6750,94355,94357,94348,91228,8943,2773,94361,94337,5942,21760,94338,94341,94360,91325,91250,2614,78257,94324,61531,94352,2062,94021,94342,18558,28370],"class_list":["post-137095","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-boxing","tag-america","tag-american-superstar","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-australia-and-new-zealand","tag-australian-fight-fans","tag-blockbuster-fight","tag-boxing","tag-boxing-crowd","tag-boxing-icons","tag-boxing-league","tag-boxing-ring","tag-boxing-star","tag-boxing-superstar","tag-brandon-adams","tag-brian-mcintyre","tag-brisbane","tag-callum-walsh","tag-canelo-alvarez","tag-championship-belt","tag-conor-mcgregor","tag-crawford-press","tag-dana-white","tag-dana-white-contender-series","tag-david-becker","tag-david-benavidez","tag-david-papot","tag-decision-win","tag-diego-lopes","tag-edgar-berlanga","tag-entertainment-capital","tag-errol-spence","tag-espn-inc","tag-europe","tag-event-headlines","tag-featherweight-contenders","tag-fight-card","tag-fight-game","tag-floyd-mayweather","tag-france","tag-freddy-roach","tag-gavin-pratt","tag-gerry-cooney","tag-getty-images-inc","tag-heavyweight-player","tag-horror-weight-cut","tag-hype-building","tag-insane-purses","tag-jaime-munguia","tag-jake-paul","tag-jean-silva","tag-jermaine-franklin","tag-john-ryder","tag-junior-welterweight","tag-larry-holmes","tag-las-vegas","tag-lester-martinez","tag-lewis-crocker","tag-light-heavyweight-title","tag-lopsided-decision","tag-lopsided-decision-loss","tag-man-sparks","tag-massive-gambles","tag-mike-tyson","tag-naoya-inoue","tag-nevada","tag-nick-walshaw","tag-north-america","tag-northern-america","tag-oceania","tag-opening-bell-sounds","tag-press-conference","tag-queensland","tag-rugby-league","tag-shake-hands","tag-shakur-stevenson","tag-sports","tag-start-time","tag-steven-nelson","tag-super-middleweight","tag-super-middleweight-champ","tag-super-middleweight-king","tag-super-welterweight","tag-super-welterweight-champ","tag-super-welterweight-king","tag-tabatha-ricci","tag-tim-tszyu","tag-title-fight","tag-title-ramifications","tag-travis-kent-crawford","tag-ufc-performance-institute","tag-undisputed-champion","tag-undisputed-super","tag-united-states-of-america","tag-us-congress","tag-ustad-amir-khan","tag-weight-classes","tag-welterweight-title-eliminator","tag-western-europe","tag-win-putting","tag-winner-faces","tag-world-health-organization","tag-world-title-contention"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/137095","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=137095"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/137095\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/137096"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=137095"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=137095"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=137095"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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