Trainer John David Jackson says Canelo Alvarez’s selection of Terence Crawford is one other example of his cherry-picking an opponent that he believes he can beat.
Jackson states that for the last two years, Canelo (63-2-2, 39 KOs) has routinely been rigorously choosing his opposition. He notes that Alvarez hasn’t fought a top-caliber opponent shortly.
Canelo’s Weakened Foe
In Crawford’s case, Canelo has chosen the fitting time to fight him with the Nebraska native turning 38 in September, looking old, and coming off a career-worst performance against Israil Madrimov a 12 months ago on August 3, 2024. You possibly can tell from that fight that Crawford has lost so much from his game, as he was eating right hands from Madrimov like they were they were candy.
The collection of Crawford, with him showing age, being inactive, and exposed in his last fight, shows that Canelo hasn’t lost his touch in choosing his opponent. He didn’t fight Gennadiy Golovkin until GGG was 36, despite him pushing for a fight from 32.
Jackson on Alvarez’s Cherry-Picking
“Canelo has been cherry-picking for a very long time now. He’s cherry-picking with this fight. He’s got a smaller guy he thinks he can beat up. Why didn’t he pick Benavidez?” said trainer John David Jackson to Secondsout about Canelo Alvarez fighting Terence Crawford. “Set traps for him and don’t be there after he set that trap,” said Jackson about what Crawford should do.”
Jackson is 100% correct. Alvarez has been picked an old, smaller fighter, getting off a yearlong layoff, and having only fought five times within the last five years. Ambition long gone, possibilities of beating any of the skillers at 154, zero.
If not for Turki Alalshikh throwing Crawford a lifeline here by paying him a goldmine for his fight last 12 months against Madrimov and his undeserved title shot against Canelo on September thirteenth, Bud could be food for the young sharks at 154.
“Box him. You don’t must go for a knockout. Just outbox him. Crawford is a brilliant fighter. It’s a really tricky fight. I give Crawford a hell of a shot. I might say he’s slipping because he hasn’t fought top-caliber opponents within the last couple of years,” said Jackson about Canelo. “I wouldn’t say he’s soft, but he’s definitely not the fighter he once was. He hasn’t had a giant fight shortly.
“This fight, he might stand up for. He’s getting older. He isn’t old, but he’s getting up in age. This fight might stand up where he’s the very best he may be, but I just don’t see it,” said Jackson.
Last Updated on 08/03/2025