Eddie Hearn: “I Probably Lean Slightly To Crawford In This Fight”

By: Sean Crose

Speaking with Fight Hype, promoter Eddie Hearn weighed in on next week’s Canelo Alvarez-Terence Crawford superfight. “I think it’s a great fight,” Hearn said. “I guess the big conversation is how the weight will effect Bud.” Hearn, understanding that Crawford has never fought higher than 147 except for once, knows that Canelo’s side advantage could be problem for the fighter called Bud. “Crawford didn’t look that big against the 154,” Hearn said, referring to Israil Madrimov, who Crawford fought and defeated last year.

On the other hand, Hearn makes it clear that Crawford is the real thing – which makes him a real threat to anyone. “Bud talks a brilliant game and he’s walked the walk.” Hearn then said something some might find surprising. “I probably lean slightly to Crawford in this fight,” he said. “I think Canelo would be a favorite going in but it wouldn’t surprise me at all if Crawford can do it.” Hearn’s thinking here is fascinating. “Canelo’s not that active,” he said. “He doesn’t throw a lot of punches and he hates movement. Hates it.”

As Hearn sees it, Crawford might be able to win simply by keeping the fight from becoming a slugfest. “To be honest,” he said, “Crawford’s going to probably make it a little bit of a stinker.” Hearn went on to indicate that Canelo isn’t one who wants to put in an enormous amount of effort. “I don’t think he really wants to work that much,” he said of Canelo. “When was the last time Canelo got a stoppage?”

Hearn has some valid points here. The truth is that Canelo hasn’t stopped in opponent in over three years. Some might feel this is because Canelo has declined a bit. If so, no one could fault Canelo for slipping. Indeed, the man has had a tremendous career for himself. Golovkin, Lara, Jacobs, Smith, Kovalev, Saunders – these are the names of all around terrific fighters – and Canelo has defeated them all. Even those who feel Canelo was in reality bested by Golovkin and/or Lara has to admit those fights were razor close.

So, yes, Canelo could be missing a step. After a literally legendary run like his who could possibly be surprised if it’s true? One of the best questions leading into next weekend, then, is does the man have enough in him to best the extremely skilled Crawford? Or, put another way, does Crawford have enough to take down one of contemporary boxing’s great pillars like Canelo?