Canelo vs Bud is a Super Fight, even if the two combatants are past their prime- they are still considered amongst the best pound for pound fighters in the sport and the winner is going to be given some big opportunities over the next twelve months to further their legacy and increase the bank balance.
Even the losing fighter may be afforded some opportunities, but you have to imagine that said fighter could also consider retirement.
This is a big weekend in other parts of the world too- the main event may be in Las Vegas, but Naoya Inoue faces a real challenge on Sunday and the Lewis Crocker vs Paddy Donovan rematch for a World Title in Belfast is going to provide an intense atmosphere on Saturday evening, UK time.
For Boxing fans, this is the kind of weekend that should be appreciated and enjoyed with some solid fights across several hours and it should be the beginning of some solid looking cards to take us through to the end of the calendar year.
When this fight was first rumoured, my feeling was that Terence Crawford would be ready to 'shock the world' by moving up a couple of weight classes to beat the Undisputed Super Middleweight Champion.
However, the expectation was that this was not going to be a view shared by many.
To my surprise, the Terence Crawford bandwagon has been picking up steam ever since the fight was made official and there has been little reason to pull back on the selection.
You have to have a huge amount of respect for Canelo Alvarez and all that he has achieved in the sport- he is the naturally bigger man in terms of the weight class, and having just two defeats in a sixty-seven fight career against Floyd Mayweather and Dmitry Bivol will give his fans plenty of belief that the Mexican is ready to beat another contender.
Carrying the extra weight is going to be an issue for Terence Crawford, but he physically matches up to Canelo Alvarez.
Bud is also the older fighter, even if he is less battle worn, and you cannot ignore what has looked obvious slippages in Canelo Alvarez' performances over the last couple of years. The win over William Scull was particularly poor viewing earlier this year, although Canelo can at least point to being more active than Terence Crawford who is having just his second fight since July 2023.
The last time we saw Crawford in the ring, he was not exactly lighting it up and that was at Light Middleweight, but his footwork is going to be an advantage in this fight.
It may all end up boiling down to a simple fact- can Crawford take the punches and power that Canelo Alvarez will deliver?
A couple of years ago it may have felt different, but there is little doubt that Canelo's activity has dipped within fights and that is where Terence Crawford can use his footwork and Boxing IQ and skills to do enough to put the Rounds in the bank.
Earning a Decision win over Canelo Alvarez in Las Vegas has always been an extra challenge- there are a number of fights where it has been almost unanimously felt that the Mexican King has been given a kind verdict, most notably in the Gennady Golovkin trilogy and the Erislandy Lara bouts.
Even Dmitry Bivol's win over Canelo looked much more comfortable than the final 115-113 scores handed in by all three judges and you do have to wonder if any close Rounds will automatically be handed to Alvarez.
That is not to say it is going to be a fix, but the old saying of a 'good big one beats a good little one' might be on the minds of the judges when there is little between the fighters and so leaning with the Boxer they expect to be dictating is almost human nature.
The more Terence Crawford pushes to make it clear he has won the Rounds, the more chance of Canelo Alvarez landing something big, but the unbeaten American is someone who seems to know when to turn it on and off within fights.
It would be a real surprise if either fighter is Stopped, but the feeling is that Terence Crawford will outwork Canelo Alvarez for long enough to be given the Decision. Both fighters are likely to come out with some caution and it could be a slow burner, but there is a pride about both Canelo and Bud and that should see them exchanging plenty of leather once they have worked out some of the movements of the other.
This has all of the hallmarks of being a brilliant fight, even if both are past their best, and it is hard to rule out Terence Crawford from earning the upset.
My gut feeling is that Terence Crawford will find a way, but inactivity is an issue and we won't really know how that, and the added weight has affected his preparation until the two fighters are in the ring.
Canelo Alvarez has tended to find a plan that has helped him come through close fights, but this is his toughest test since the loss to Dmitry Bivol.
It is a Super Fight and the best play may be going with the gut feeling that has been in place since it was first rumoured and that is Bud Crawford finding a way, most likely on the cards.
Instead of a three day build towards the main event in Las Vegas, as was touted by the promoters when the big fight was first announced, there is a decent enough undercard put together.
It features fighters that could potentially be pushed into main event or higher profile fights going forward, especially with the links to Riyadh Season, and so there are big opportunities at play.
Serhii Bohachuk has raised his profile over the last twelve months and is expected to earn revenge over Brandon Adams, the sole loss on his record. However, it is not easy to know how the fight will develop considering the toughness of the veteran, although ultimately you have to believe Bohachuk will have his hand raised.
The interest may be in a couple of the crossroads fights featuring unbeaten opponents who will be looking for a big opportunity for the winner.
Callum Walsh and Christian Mbili are the favourites against Fernando Vargas and Lester Martinez respectively and both could overpower the Boxer coming out of the other corner.
It just feels like Walsh and Mbili have been building their records in better company compared with the opponent they are facing and that could show up- both of these fighters have a real belief that they are set for some big opportunities over the next twelve to eighteen months and they can prove that by impressing some of the biggest financial backers in the sport.
Lewis Crocker vs Paddy Donovan II
There was a huge amount of controversy attached to the first bout between these two rivals which was ended with a punch thrown by Paddy Donovan after the bell.
He was well on his way to winning the fight, but that late punch was deemed a Disqualification-worthy effort, and Lewis Crocker maintained his unbeaten record.
The fight now moves from The SSE Arena to Windsor Park and more has been put on the line with a World Title awarded to the winner in the Welterweight Division.
Lewis Crocker insists he will be better, but it is hard to imagine him closing what looked a considerable gap to Paddy Donovan in the original bout.
Some talk has been around that Crocker was having issues in the build up to that one, but Paddy Donovan looked stronger and the better Boxer and this time he will be looking to really make sure he leaves with the victory and the World Title. It should mean a cleaner fight from Donovan as he puts the pressure on Lewis Crocker and he should be fired up to make a statement.
Paddy Donovan can do that inside this Stadium in what should be a fiery atmosphere and the exclamation point will be securing a Stoppage, one that cannot be taken away this time.
The first fight between Crocker and Donovan was memorable, but there is a rematch on the undercard that will have fans salivating.
Tyrone McKenna Stopped Dylan Moran in two absorbing Rounds back in December and they will run it back.
Since that contest, McKenna has been through another tough fight when being Stopped by Harlem Eubank, but he will be very confident that he has too much for this rival having shown that in the first bout.
You have to believe Dylan Moran will take some confidence from the number of times McKenna was dropped in that defeat to Eubank, but his own chin has shown a 'weakness' which his rival was happy to point out BEFORE the first win.
Another firefight could be in store, but one that Tyrone McKenna can come out on top.
There is also a decent looking Super Middleweight fight on the undercard and there seems to be little love lost between Caoimhin Agyarko and Ishmael Davis.
However, it feels the layers have got it about right with Davis going in as a narrow favourite and he should do enough to beat the home fighter on the cards.
MY PICKS: Terence Crawford to Win @ 2.60 Bet Fred (1 Unit)
Christian Mbili to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 2.75 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Callum Walsh to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 3.25 Sky Bet (1 Unit)
Paddy Donovan to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 1.66 Bet365 (2 Units)
Tyrone McKenna to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 1.83 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Boxing 2025: 19-56, - 32.93 Units (94 Units Staked, - 35.03% Yield)
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