SEPTEMBER 13th will see undefeated American Terence Crawford, 41-0 (31 KOs), take on the biggest challenge of his career to date as he collides with Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, 63-2-2 (39 KOs), over 12 rounds in Las Vegas.
Boxing someone with the experience and quality of the Mexican is hard enough, but the task becomes even greater when factoring in that the Omaha native will be forced to climb two weight classes to challenge his fellow pound-for-pound contender.
Having fought predominantly at super-welterweight, Crawford will step up to 168 lbs to meet Canelo, a man who has not only dominated at super-middleweight but has also campaigned as high as light-heavyweight, once weighing in at 174½ lbs for a world title fight.
Naturally, this has led many to favour the undisputed super-middleweight champion. Canelo’s size, durability, and familiarity with bigger opponents are undeniable advantages.
Yet Crawford, who has built his reputation on being a master technician, capable of adapting to any style, switching stances seamlessly, and breaking down opponents with precision, is confident of showcasing why he’s a true great of his generation.
He wouldn’t be the first fighter to step up in weight and win, perhaps a good omen for him. Here are three examples from boxing history that showcase the feat being completed in ‘Sin City’.
Sugar Ray Leonard v Donny Lalonde – 7th November 1988
Having already achieved superstar status following victories against Roberto Duran, Thomas Hearns and Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray Leonard, who had campaigned as low as welterweight, stepped up to take on the naturally light-heavyweight Donny Lalonde.
Lalonde nicknamed ‘The Golden Boy’ held the WBC light-heavyweight title and carried serious punch power with the Canadian having stopped 26 of his previous 33 opponents.
The pair met in a 168lbs catchweight bout at Caesars Palace, with both the WBC light-heavyweight and the inaugural WBC super-middleweight crown on the line, an extremely unique situation.
Lalonde dropped Leonard in thefourth round of scheduled 12 with a stiff right hand, only the second time the American hit the canvas in his career.
Leonard, however, regrouped and began to use his speed, combinations, and ring IQ to wear Lalonde down. In the 9th round, Leonard unleashed a furious combination, pinning Lalonde against the ropes.
A final flurry ended with Lalonde collapsing to the canvas, unable to beat the count. Victory saw Leonard become the first fighter to win a world title in five different weight classes, while achieving the rare feat of winning world titles in two separate divisions on the same night.
Roy Jones Jr v John Ruiz – 1st March 2003
Roy Jones Jr was already regarded as one of the most gifted fighters of his generation, a three-weight world champion who dazzled with blistering speed, reflexes, and unmatched athleticism.
In March 2003, the American made an audacious leap, jumping nearly 30 pounds to challenge defending WBA heavyweight champion John Ruiz at the Thomas & Mack Centre in Las Vegas.
Known as ‘The Quiet Man’, Ruiz may not have been the most glamorous champion, but he was a seasoned and rugged operator who had gone the distance with Evander Holyfield and shared the ring with big punchers like David Tua. Most observers believed his natural size and true heavyweight strength would prove too much for the smaller Jones to overcome.
The weigh-in underscored the task ahead: Ruiz came in at 226 lbs, a full 33 pounds heavier than Jones at 193 lbs. From the opening bell, it was clear Jones would have to rely on his superior speed, sharp reflexes, and fast combinations to neutralise the size gap.
Ruiz tried to impose himself, walking forward and attempting to pin Jones down, but the multi-weight champion was too quick, too elusive, and too precise. Jones consistently beat Ruiz to the punch, peppering him with counters and slipping away before Ruiz could respond.
After 12 rounds of near-total control, the judges returned scorecards of 118–110, 117–111, and 116–112, a clear unanimous decision in favour of Jones.
With the victory, the Florida native became the first former middleweight in over a century (since Bob Fitzsimmons in 1897) to capture a heavyweight world title.
Jones never defended the belt, choosing instead to return to light-heavyweight, a move some believe strained his body and marked the beginning of his decline.
Even so, his triumph over Ruiz remains one of the most remarkable feats in boxing history, a former middleweight defying the odds and rising four divisions to outclass a true heavyweight champion.
Manny Pacquiao v Oscar De La Hoya – 6th December 2008
Billed as a David vs. Goliath dream match, Manny Pacquiao and Oscar De La Hoya faced off at the MGM Grand in a 12-round welterweight clash.
Pacquiao jumped two divisions from lightweight to challenge “The Golden Boy” and was widely regarded as the underdog against the naturally larger, fellow multi-weight champion.
From the opening bell, Pacquiao’s blinding speed, sharp combinations, and angles immediately gave De La Hoya trouble, as the veteran struggled to time the smaller fighter. De La Hoya attempted to use his size and experience to slow Pacquiao down, but the Filipino’s relentless pace and precision proved unstoppable.
By the eighth round, De La Hoya’s corner stopped the fight, with their fighter clearly overwhelmed. The victory cemented Pacquiao’s status as a pound-for-pound great and one of boxing’s most daring and accomplished champions.
