The boxing industry was left stumped recently as the former world champion, Amir Khan, conveyed his passionate advice to the current WBO welterweight titleholder, Terence Crawford. Khan cautioned Crawford against considering a fight with Canelo Alvarez, emphasizing that ‘weight matters.’
Khan is not a stranger to the effects of moving up in weight for a fight. He faced Canelo Alvarez in 2016, moving up from welterweight to a catchweight of 155 pounds. He noted, “It’s not just about power, it’s speed, movement, everything changes.”
Weight plays a pivotal role in boxing. It is a unique sport where athletes are grouped into weight categories to ensure a fair match. Boxers’ strength, speed, and endurance levels are massively influenced by their weight, and as Khan shared, the implications go beyond mere power.
Witnessing the potential mismatch, Khan voiced his concern about a possible move up in weight by Crawford to battle super-middleweight champion Alvarez. “Don’t fight Canelo,” as Khan critically put it, reiterating that the physical disadvantages following the weight increase are far too substantial to disregard.
A boxing bout between Crawford and Alvarez would indeed require Crawford to jump up two weight divisions, from welterweight to super-middleweight. It’s a risky leap, one that can potentially hamper a boxer’s speed and overall movement fluidity —crucial aspects for his performance and chances of winning.
Looking back, when Khan fought Alvarez, he had the speed and craft to outwit Alvarez in the early rounds. Unfortunately, Canelo’s strength and size ultimately wore Khan down, leading to his defeat in the match. An increase in weight is often countered by a decrease in speed, stamina, and reflex times, all detrimental to a boxer’s performance.
Crawford, renowned for his agility and exceptional skills, may find the weight jump to impact his own stance negatively. This, combined with Canelo Alvarez’s expertise and command in the super-middleweight league, can potentially mean an uphill fight for Crawford.
Alvarez has recently showcased his lethal striking prowess against Callum Smith, winning the WBA (Super), WBC, and The Ring super-middleweight titles in 2020. He is a robust and resilient boxer at his current weight class – substantially heightening the risk for any welterweight considering a jump to his field.
Khan’s warnings are not devoid of merit. Lending our ears to his advice could save us a redundant game where the odds are heavily skewed. A fight where a wilful and spry Crawford is worn down by a more formidable Alvarez due to a weight gap is far from the thrill boxing fans yearn for.
To sum it up, if weight does matter as profoundly as Khan implies, Crawford should indeed think twice before stepping into the ring with Alvarez. Crawford is an excellentfighter in his weight class and should focus on maintaining his dominance there. Granted, there’s always room for spectacle and surprise in boxing, but a fighter’s health and career longevity should take precedence. Based on Amir Khan’s passionate advice, Crawford would do well to stay in his lane, where his speed and skill can shine without being overshadowed by physical disadvantages.
Without a doubt, the comprehensive strategic planning characteristic of professional boxing shapes the success trajectory of boxing champions of today and tomorrow. Weight matters in boxing and must be a core element of this strategic planning for any boxer aspiring to rise to prominence or maintain it.
