LATER this year, the boxing world will witness a clash of eras, styles, and legacies when Canelo Álvarez faces Terence Crawford—a bout that echoes the unforgettable 1987 showdown between Marvin Hagler and Sugar Ray Leonard.
At its heart, Hagler vs Leonard was a fight of contrasts. Hagler, the dominant middleweight, was the naturally bigger, stronger man. Leonard, returning from a long layoff, was the smaller, quicker technician.
To win, Leonard didn’t try to overpower Hagler—he used movement, timing, and strategy to steal rounds and frustrate the champion. The result was one of boxing’s most controversial decisions, but also one of its most brilliant tactical performances.
Canelo vs Crawford presents a strikingly similar dynamic.
Canelo, like Hagler, is the naturally bigger man. He’s the reigning super-middleweight king, with power, composure, and a style built on pressure and precision. He breaks opponents down over time, targeting the body and closing distance with a tight guard. Fighters who’ve stood still in front of him—like Caleb Plant and Billy Joe Saunders—have eventually been worn down and stopped.
Crawford, on the other hand, mirrors Leonard’s approach. He’s smaller in frame, but one of the most intelligent and adaptable boxers of this era. An undefeated, undisputed welterweight champion, Crawford can switch stances, control range, and make in-fight adjustments like few others.
He dismantled Errol Spence with clinical precision in 2023, and now, just like Leonard stepping up to face Hagler, he dares to take on a physically superior champion in a higher weight class.
To win, Crawford will need to use movement, angles, and sharp counters—just as Leonard did. He won’t try to slug with Canelo, just as Leonard refused to go toe-to-toe with Hagler. Instead, Crawford will aim to outthink and outbox Canelo, frustrating him over 12 rounds while avoiding the kind of exchanges that could shift momentum.
Canelo, meanwhile, will be seeking to do what Hagler couldn’t—cut off the ring and impose his size. He’s far more calculated now than in his earlier years, and his body work will be critical in slowing Crawford down. Just as Hagler tried to trap Leonard in exchanges, Canelo will want to limit Crawford’s lateral movement and force him into trading.
The stakes couldn’t be higher. For Canelo, a win further cements his legacy as a generational great. For Crawford, victory would make him the first man in history to move from undisputed at 140 and 147 to defeating a modern legend at 168.
Just as Leonard’s win over Hagler became a defining moment of the 1980s, Crawford vs Canelo on September 12th (reportedly moving to the 13th) could be the defining fight of this era. It’s not just a super fight—it’s a stylistic sequel to one of boxing’s greatest stories.
