The world of boxing once again finds itself awash in intrigue and speculation. Amid the ripples, Hall of fame announcer Jim Lampley stirs the pond by boldly suggesting that Terence Crawford could overcome the formidable skills of the reigning middleweight world champion, Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez. Further stirring the pot, Lampley dismissed the increasingly popular narrative that Saudi Arabian investors could take control of boxing promotions.
“Crawford CAN BEAT Canelo!” -Lampley stated in a recent interview. His statement ignited debates among boxing enthusiasts, sparking a tantalizing ‘what if’ scenario that fans are thrilled to explore. Is it possible for the three-weight division world champion, Terence Crawford, to dethrone the world’s pound-for-pound king, Canelo Alvarez?
Lampley believes so, pinning his reasoning on Crawford’s unblemished record and impressive credentials. Having sucessfully navigated the lightweight, the junior welterweight, and the welterweight divisions, Crawford’s versatility and adaptability could indeed pose a legitimate threat to Alvarez.
Yet, no fight between the two has been announced or even appears to be in the works. Fans can only hope that this match could become a reality, invoking a spirited spectacle that could potentially reshape the boxing world.
“POURS COLD WATER on Saudis buying promotions!” Lampley’s comment on the Saudi Arabian situation furthered his iconoclastic streak. With Saudi Arabia’s rising influence in the boxing sphere, it’s logical for insiders to speculate about the possibility of Saudi investors gaining control of promotions. However, Lampley dismisses such notions as mere rumors and distractions.
Saudi Arabia has been hosting major boxing events in the recent times, capitalizing on their strategic geographical location and their modern facilities – for instance, the grand bout between Andy Ruiz Jr. and Anthony Joshua. Despite these successful endeavors, Lampley views the Saudi involvement as purely business, doubting the country’s desire to supervise and manage boxing promotions.
In Lampley’s words, “There’s a huge difference between using boxing as a means to promote tourism and being entangled in the rigours of handling promotions.”
This isn’t the first time Saudi Arabia’s investment in boxing has been viewed with skepticism. Despite the big-dollar fixtures hosted in the country, boxing stalwarts like Eddie Hearn, one of the sport’s most famous promoters, have questioned the long-term sustainability and genuine interest of the Saudis in boxing promotions.
There’s no denying the significant capital and potential market that Saudi Arabia offers to the boxing world. Still, its growing interest has been perceived by some as a way of ‘sportswashing’ – using sports to improve its international image, especially in light of the country’s much-criticized human rights record.
As the rich history and culture of boxing march into an uncertain future, opinions like Lampley’s add a different voice that calls for caution and perspective. His dual comments on Crawford’s prospects against Canelo and the influence of the Saudis remind us of boxing’s ever-fluid balance of power and the resilience of the sport amidst shifting circumstances.
As we harbors the founder announcer’s views in anticipation, boxing fans around the world continue to look forward with bated breath, eager to see how these predictions might play out upon the sport’s global stage.
