Crawford's Camp See No Point In A Canelo Rematch

Assistant coach Bernie Davis is looking beyond the rematch between Terence Crawford and Canelo Alvarez, saying Crawford would win by knockout.

The scores were 115-113, 115-113, and 116-112, suggesting the fight was much closer. However, Crawford was the dominant fighter, with the majority feeling the scorecards should have been wider. Crawford’s ability to handle the two-weight-class jump to 168 pounds, and that Canelo entered the ring without a rehydration clause, shows Bud had no issues handling the move up.

Canelo also faces a risk in taking the rematch, knowing another loss to Crawford would increase the calls for him to retire. Alvarez would also put his legacy at risk, especially since he has been accused of ducking the big fights, namely the David Benavidez bout. 

"I think we could stop him the second time. I think it’ll be worse because I feel a sharp Bud Crawford, I don’t think Canelo can hurt him. None of the s*** that he [Canelo] was doing worked. He thought Crawford was going to run like William Scull. He thought Crawford couldn’t hurt him. I don’t see any calls for a rematch because Bud handled him," Davis said 

The Argument

Davis’ prediction of a knockout victory in a rematch is a sign of his camp’s ultimate confidence. The first fight proved that Canelo, despite his size advantage, has a vulnerable gas tank. Canelo showed that he still suffered from the doubts over his style in his defeats to Floyd Mayweather and Dmitry Bivol where he was outboxed.

While Crawford may have been the more dominant fighter, Canelo was still in the fight for many rounds. A motivated Canelo could make adjustments to be more competitive in a second bout. A knockout prediction for Crawford, who is known for his tactical brilliance and caution, might be a step too far. Crawford’s style is built on minimizing risk, and going for a knockout against a still-dangerous opponent like Canelo could leave him open to a counter-punch that could change the fight.

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