CANELO VS. CRAWFORD PREVIEW, PREDICTIONS, POLL, ODDS, PRESSER & WEIGH-IN
Canelo vs. Crawford Preview of Superfight of the Decade
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Las Vegas, NV (September 13th, 2025)– As of the night before the fight, Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez has a slight odds betting favorite over Terence Crawford, with odds at -150, while Crawford is the underdog at about +140. Both fighters’ odds have shifted to make the fight very close, but the gap remains narrow as the bout approaches, between two of the era’s best boxers meeting in the ring for the first time in the main event of a 10 bout card on Saturday evening, September 13, 2025, in a scheduled 12 rounder for the World Super Middleweight title at Allegiant Stadium in Las, Vegas, Nevada, televised live on Netflix.
Who wins?
Southpaw Crawford, 41-0 with 31 knockouts, Omaha, Nebraska, who fights by switching from orthodox to southpaw and back, a three-division world champion and enjoys height and reach advantage. His 74 inches of reach is a critical factor, as Canelo wound up in the same disadvantage against World Light Heavyweight champion Dmitrii Bivol and could not overcome it. Alvarez, 63-2-2 with 39 knockouts, Guadalajara, Mexico, has a 70-inch reach yet retains the advantage of having hard experience in the 168 and 175-pound weight classes. Crawford, currently a world junior middleweight champion, is jumping up two weight classes. Both combatants weighed in at 167.5 pounds in compliance with World Boxing Council weight requirements rules before the bout.
Ring commentator Teddy Atlas notes the boxing IQ of both fighters, and the legacy and challenge at stake which makes this bout a super fight. Both fighters always find a way to win. Trainer Abel Sanchez feels the weight gain by Crawford will make a big difference in his abilities going up in weight. However, Canelo, like Crawford, rose from the lower welterweight classes to the higher weight classes. Roy Jones Jr. notes “The stuff you have goes with you” when you go up in weight. Jones went up from middleweight to heavyweight. So, the transition largely depends on the individual fighter. Tank Davis notes a smarter fighter is better than bigger fighter. “He (Crawford) ain’t been clipped for all these years. Manny Pacquiao notes Crawford has to manage his body, speed, and power, as he is transitioning to another higher weight class, which Pacquiao has done successfully. Promoter Bob Arum pondered the question as to which Canelo is going to show up, which, depending on what develops, could make for an interesting bout.
In the film study by retired world champion Andre Ward, Andre feels Crawford must communicate two messages to Canelo. “One, I’m physically strong. Two, I can hurt you.” Canelo cannot feel comfortable lifting Crawford off the ground or bullying him in clinches. Crawford is a master of the last-second check hook when opponents come in, and is a master of keeping opponents on the end of his jab with a 3.5-inch reach advantage here. Canelo has a history of outdueling taller opponents. Body punches are a key factor, with Canelo maintaining a high guard. Crawford had 11 consecutive knockouts before decisioning Madrimov at 154 pounds. Accuracy and punch placement are the key to victory for Crawford, who Ward feels cannot match Canelo’s power at the higher weight.
Pressure from Crawford in forcing Canelo to fight when he would prefer to rest at times. Canelo must get smaller body shots inside Rocky Marciano style to steal Crawford’s wind. Canelo’s defense is a major key for him, which amounts to the ability to anticipate his opponent’s shots, avoid them, and then counter.
Ward wants to see if Alvarez can draw Crawford into a firefight, midrange and inside close. This would negate size and reach advantage. Crawford must carry forward a complex game plan demonstrating confidence and the ability to outduel and land on Canelo early to build aan dvantage as the bout progresses into the later rounds, which is definitely where this bout is going to go. Canelo must feignt successfully, whereby he lands not just with speed but with superior maximum power in his power punch replies.
Crawford’s slogan ‘Even Big Fish Get Caught’ will hold true tonight. Crawford is predicted to win by 12 round split decision. Knockdowns could affect scoring. The last four championship rounds will turn the bout, and either fighter could turn these rounds to their advantage based on successful work from the earlier rounds, which will be key. Canelo will be fighting for his family and newborn daughter, Crawford will be fighting for legacy and to prove the experts wrong. Crawford is a technical ability notch above Erislandy Lara, who gave Canelo trouble. Crawford versus Canelo is similar in construct to Alvarez versus Floyd Mayweather, just being fought in a higher weight class like Floyd Mayweather versus Oscar De la Hoya. Pacquiao rose through the weight classes to great success. Jones went from middleweight to heavyweight. Can Crawford make the leap frogger jump and outwork Canelo. This reporter says yes, but the bout will be razor close.
One factor all experts are ignoring is Crawford’s power. Crawford will have to execute a game plan that includes superior power, well enough to knock Canelo out. Canelo’s game plan is to demonstrate superior power and stop Crawford in the later rounds. This game plan presumes Canelo will demonstrate the sort of power which will force Crawford to give up, as the Canelo game plan presumes Crawford cannot truly compete in a long bout, similar to Carlos Monzon versus Jose Napoles. However, this is a 12 round bout, not a 15 round bout. Canelo is not George Foreman, and Crawford is not Bob Foster trying to move up.
Canelo versus Crawford is a unique super bout in the mold of the Hagler, Hearns, Leonard and Duran super bouts of the 1980. The super middleweight class has long been overlooked, and fighters like Sven Ottke, who mastered this division, long overlooked. Canelo and Crawford really had no other super fights or significant opponents left on the board, so the matchup is credible to believe it would take place. Las Vegas scoring favors the more popular Canelo at this point, meaning for Crawford to win, his performance has to be more than convincing. A close bout would put Crawford in a situation similar to Canelo’s three bouts with Gennady Golovkin, which some experts believed Golovkin won but who did not get any of the decisions for obvious reasons.
A BoxRec number one versus a BoxRec number one is an atom bomb bout in the modern era, leaving the possibility of a sudden knockout on the table. This bout is a technical gem. The ability not to get hit will prove as important as the damage from getting hit. Crawford will prove, for the first time in Canelo’s career, a most difficult target with a defense hard to penetrate. Clinches could result in worse than the exhibition bout between Roy Jones Jr. and Mike Tyson. How those cinches are handled could determine the winner, similar to Jack Johnson versus James Jeffries over a century ago.
Robert Brizel’s Undercard Predictions:
Sultan Almohammed (Pro Debut) Win 4 Martin Caraballo, Super Featherweights
Reito Tsutsumi Win 6 Javier Martinez, Super Featherweights
Marco Verde Win 6 Sona Akale, Middleweights
Travis Crawford Win 6 Muhammad Alakel, Super Featherweights
Steven Nelson Draw 10 Raiko Santana, Super Middleweights
Fernando Vargas Win 10 Callum Walsh, Super Welterweights
Ivan Dychko Win TKO Jermaine Franklin Jr., Heavyweights (round not specified)
Christian Mbili wins by KO over Lester Martinez, WBC Interim Super Middleweight title
Serhii Bohachuk Win Majority Decision 10 Brandon Adams, Middleweights
The Canelo vs. Crawford boxing match is scheduled for Saturday, September 13, 2025, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The main event starts at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT, and the fight can be streamed globally on Netflix, included with any Netflix membership. Canelo Alvarez is defending his undisputed super middleweight titles against Terence Crawford, who is moving up in weight for this bout.
How to Watch:
Platform: Netflix
Price: No extra cost or pay-per-view fees; it is included with your Netflix membership.
Start Time: Main card begins at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.
Key Details:
Date: Saturday, September 13, 2025.
Location: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas.
Main Card: Main card begins at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.
Undercard: The undercard includes bouts such as Callum Walsh vs. Fernando Vargas Jr. and Christian M’billi vs. Lester Martinez.
Canelo vs.Crawford Key Strategy to Win & Facts:
Canelo Alvarez:
Use Feints, land to the body early to slow down Crawford’s footwork, and be the aggressor most of the fight. Make Crawford backup most of the night, feel his weight, and be the boss in the ring and control the center. If Canelo can establish a jab, he will be able to apply pressure on Crawford. He also has to find a home for his right hand if Crawford jumps straight back in the center line.
Canelo has one of the best chins in boxing history and has never been dropped in over 60 fights over a span of 20 years. Canelo started fighting professionally at age 15.
In recent years, Canelo has shown a slow decline in his performance as far as his aggression and work rate, and he must finish strong; and he has a tendency to coast in the later rounds. Canelo has only stopped 4 fighters in his last 14 fights.
To his credit, fighters tend to fight on their shield to survive all night once they feel Canelo’s power early in the fight. Recently, Canelo failed to stop Edgar Berlanga, Jermell Charlo, and Jamie Munguia while he struggled to win against John Ryder, who is a quality southpaw gatekeeper from the UK.
Amir Khan, who faced Crawford and Canelo, says Canelo hits harder, but is easier to hit than Crawford.
Terence Crawford:
Terence tends to start slow to gather his opponent’s data and finish strong . In his last eight fights, Terence Crawford has only one decision win while being a ferocious finisher. He faced Israil Madrimov on August 3, 2024, where he won by unanimous decision, retaining his WBA and vacant WBO super welterweight titles. Since he had to dig down deep to win a close fight against Madrimov, some have questioned whether his punching power will carry up to 168lbs against Canelo’s granite chin.
Crawford is currently seeking to become the first undisputed champion in three weight classes, aiming for a significant victory in his upcoming fight against Canelo Alvarez.
Crawford must be able to counterpunch better and simultaneously punch with Canelo to score.
Crawford needs to take risks and finish each round strong and use his 3-inch reach advantage to establish a jab. He must control the front foot of Canelo, push Canelo back intelligently towards the second half of each round, and establish angles. Crawford has the superior footspeed, and he must use his jab up and down all night to be effective while landing to the body to be successful, so he can come on strong in the championship rounds. He also has to control the clinch with his wrestling background, to avoid slip counters by Canelo, who has excellent head movement.
Crawford can also fight in an orthodox and southpaw stance, which gives him an advantage round to round, where he disrupts his opponents’ rhythm, timing, and range.
Crawford is trained by Brian “BoMac” McIntyre and he works with SNAC, which is owned by Victor Conte for his nutritional plan.
Judges and Referee for this fight…
The judges for the Canelo vs. Crawford fight are Tim Cheatham, Max De Luca, and Steve Weisfeld, and the referee is Thomas Taylor. This team was appointed by the Nevada State Athletic Commission and previously scored the Manny Pacquiao vs. Mario Barrios fight, which ended in a controversial majority draw.
Judges Tim Cheatham, Max De Luca, and Steve Weisfeld.
Referee Thomas Taylor.
BOOTS TALKS SPARRING WITH CANELO IN ‘DAY IN THE LIFE’
WATCH PART ONE OF ‘DAY IN THE LIFE’ WITH BOOTS ENNIS ON MATCHROOM BOXING’S YOUTUBE CHANNEL NOW
Philly ace opens up on working with Mexican legend in part one of Matchroom’s fly on the wall feature
Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis believes he’ll reap the benefits of the very best sparring possible, as he shared invaluable rounds with Canelo Alvarez in California ahead of his first fight at Super-Welterweight, taking on Uisma Lima in a final eliminator for the WBA title at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia on October 11, live worldwide on DAZN.
Ennis (34-0 30 KOs) is stepping up to 154lbs after unifying the Welterweight division in April against Eimantas Stanionis in Atlantic City with a dominant performance. To get ready for moving to his new weight, the Philadelphia star sought to mix with the very best, and that took him to Lake Tahoe, California where he sparred with Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez, who takes on Terence Crawford in Las Vegas tomorrow night, and Matchroom’s cameras take the fans behind the scenes of his work with the undisputed Super-Middleweight king in the first episode of ‘Day in the Life’ with Boots.
“Canelo and my brother go way back,” said Ennis. “He did two training camps with him, and they are real good friends. We were just talking like it’s a regular day; that’s it.
“It was fun sparring with him. I was picking his brain, seeing what he’s got, and getting in shape for my own fight as well. He’s had almost 70 fights, turned pro at 15, so I was picking his brain, having fun, and sharpening my own tools.”
Part two of ‘Day in the Life’ with Boots Ennis in California drops on Matchroom’s YouTube channel tonight (Friday September 12).
Canelo vs. Crawford Average Betting Odds:
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