'Canelo has slipped': Boxing's best trainers break down Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford superfight

They are the script-makers who work in the shadows. Hardcore boxing fans know who they are, though beyond that, not many more.

As the ramp-up for the historic showdown between Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Terence “Bud” Crawford arrives, for Alvarez’s undisputed super middleweight world title this Saturday on Netflix from the Las Vegas Raiders’ Allegiant Stadium, many more will be introduced to Brian “BoMac” McIntyre and Eddy Reynoso.

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Uncrowned reached out to McIntyre, Crawford’s trainer and the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) 2023 Trainer of the Year, and Reynoso, Alvarez’s trainer and two-time BWAA Trainer of the Year winner, for their pre-fight thoughts, as well as esteemed trainers Robert Garcia, Derrick James, Bob Santos, Stephen “Breadman” Edwards and Ronnie Shields.

Both Alvarez and Crawford are future Hall of Famers. Both are multiple-division champions, with the 35-year-old Alvarez (63-2-2, 39 KOs) holding titles at super welterweight, middleweight, super middleweight and light heavyweight. The 38-year-old Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) is jumping up three weight classes to meet Alvarez, after holding titles at lightweight, super lightweight, welterweight and super welterweight.

Both are two-time undisputed champions, Alvarez at super middleweight twice, and Crawford at super lightweight and welterweight.

This is a fight not only for their legacies, but for the legacy of this generation of fighters.

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Who will be the face of boxing for this decade?

Their trainers, the demonstrative McIntyre and the understated Reynoso, have been behind each of them throughout their journeys.

They both obviously feel their respective fighters hold the advantage.

“He can’t keep up, he’s too slow, there is no way he’ll keep up with Bud's hand speed and footwork,” McIntyre said of Alvarez. “There are a lot of assumptions people will make about this fight that aren’t true. For one, [the assumption that] Canelo is the bigger guy. He ain’t. Bud’s the bigger guy. Their measurements bear that out. (Crawford is listed at 5-foot-8, to Alvarez’s 5-foot-7.5; Alvarez's reach is 70.5 inches, Crawford’s is 74 inches.)

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"They talk about Canelo’s power. Who has he stopped lately? Who? You have to go back to (Caleb) Plant, which was four years ago. I know [Alvarez is] younger, but he’s old — Canelo has been doing this since he [was 15]. That’s a lot of wear and tear.

“[Alvarez] has power, I won’t deny that. But look and see Canelo’s most recent fights. By the sixth, seventh round, his power drops. He has no power. Our plan is simple: Attack. Canelo can be outboxed. Bud will figure him out. Bud figures out everyone. Bud will own the second half of the fight. Bud will go upside his head and knock him out. Canelo can’t keep up with Bud. It’s that simple.”

Reynoso sees it as simple, too.

“Canelo is the more skilled fighter,” he said. “Everyone looking at this fight brings up age — Crawford is 38, Canelo is 35. Who’s the older fighter? Crawford. Canelo is the most skilled fighter in boxing. Canelo still has it and on [Sept. 13] we’re going to show it by knockout. Crawford can’t hurt Canelo. I guarantee you this is the best Canelo the fans will see in 20 years. He looks good. He’s been training hard. He’s been even more dedicated than he has been in the past, and he still wants to prove he is the best.

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“Every time Canelo has been challenged like this, he has succeeded. There is no doubt in my mind we will succeed [Saturday night]. I can’t see any way Crawford can hurt him. I can see many ways Canelo can hurt Crawford. That’s the mentality that we’re going into this with.”

Garcia, the trainer of WBC/WBO super flyweight champion Jesse “Bam” Rodríguez and BWAA 2024 Trainer of the Year, feels Crawford can pull it off.

At this stage of his career, Garcia asks if Alvarez is hungry enough. In Alvarez's most recent fights, Garcia points out, he's been a little flat-footed, throwing punches one at a time, instead of in combination.

Those could be signs of Alvarez slipping.

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“Crawford does have a great chance, because of Canelo’s past few performances, not really pushing himself like he used to,” Garcia said. “Canelo has been in so many training camps, so many sparring sessions, and that can slow you down. If I were 'BoMac,' I would plan for Crawford to fight smartly, fight fast, use his speed, reflexes and his footwork. He cannot afford to stay in front of Canelo. He needs to turn Canelo. But he needs a perfect 12-round fight to pull it off.

"If I were Eddy, I would have Canelo be aggressive, fight on the inside and throw punches in combination, because lately he has been throwing one power punch at a time. I still believe in Canelo. If I were to put money down, I would bet Canelo, though Crawford has a great chance of pulling it off.”

Shields, who trains ageless WBO middleweight champion Erislandy Lara — who many believe beat Alvarez in their 155-pound catchweight battle in July 2014 — thinks Alvarez vs. Crawford is a fight boxing direly needs. He likes Crawford, based on his speed, his in-fight ability to adapt to an opponent and his footwork.

Going into fight night, Shields feels Crawford will weigh 170 pounds and Alvarez could blow up to over 180 pounds, which may not be good for Alvarez.

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“If I’m Eddy, the only way they can beat Crawford is really hurt him early and make Crawford do things that he does not want to do,” Shields said. “They need to force Crawford to fall back without throwing any punches. If I’m Crawford, I would keep fighting the way I normally do. I would force Canelo to miss and counter everything Canelo does. I think people underestimate Crawford’s abilities. Eddy and Canelo will need to make this an ugly fight. They need to bully Crawford, rough him up.

"Crawford will need to keep calm. He needs to understand who he is fighting. Canelo wins close fights. Anything close, Crawford will not get. Anything close, that will go to Canelo. Crawford will need to keep reminding himself of that. It’s why he has to outland Canelo and do everything better than Canelo does.

“If Canelo comes in fight night over 180, that will not be good. That will slow him down.”

James, the BWAA 2022 Trainer of the Year, has previously faced Crawford as the lead trainer for Errol Spence Jr. in their July 2023 mega-fight, when Crawford stopped Spence in the ninth round to become boxing's first undisputed welterweight champion in the four-belt era.

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James carries the same fascination about Saturday's bout as everyone else. He feels Crawford is the better athlete. He feels Crawford has greater hand speed and footwork, although he also feels Crawford will need to stage a disciplined fight, controlling distance and punching range.

On Alvarez’s side, James says he possesses great timing and power.

“Crawford should not fight fire with fire, and he should not have to prove who he is — it should all be about boxing,” James said. “If I’m Eddy, my game plan would be to pressure Crawford. I would focus on defense. I would push and push him, and press Crawford out, shooting the chest, hit him on the arms and on the shoulders. Most boxers are accustomed to fighting at their own personal rhythm. I would pressure Crawford to fight my pace, break him down and make him commit. Like I said, Canelo has great timing. Pressuring Crawford will make him throw more punches, which would open him up to be countered.

“If I’m BoMac, I would make sure Crawford uses the jab and boxes him. I would concentrate on more shots to the body and chest. Anytime Canelo punches, he telegraphs them. Crawford will need to move when Canelo moves. Crawford will need to be first and last, meaning hit Canelo first and hit him last in exchanges.

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"Everyone says Canelo will win a close fight. I know boxing, and it’s why I said Crawford has to be first and last. I hope it is possible that Crawford can win a close fight. Every time Canelo throws a punch, he throws hard. That can tire you. As long as Crawford is disciplined in his boxing, he will win the fight [by] being first and last. The judges will see he started, and if he’s last, that’s the last thing the judges will see too.”

Edwards, who most recently worked with Plant, and has worked with former WBA/IBF super welterweight world champion Julian “R-Rock” Williams, agrees the winner between Alvarez and Crawford will be considered the fighter of this era.

Edwards suggests the best way to get to Crawford is through the jab, pressuring him and building a hefty lead through the early rounds, when Crawford is still dissecting his opponent’s tactics. Edwards also agrees with James that Alvarez will need to hurt Crawford early, and that Alvarez will need to break Crawford down with his jab, without showing his full arsenal.

Alvarez, Edwards maintains, has let opponents stick around the past four years, because he does not want to expend energy in going after them for a knockout.

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“Once Crawford breaks you down, it’s over — that’s why Canelo will need to jump on Crawford early,” Edwards said. “If Canelo tries to bully Crawford, leans on him and junks it up, that will fatigue him. Crawford will take advantage of that. Canelo’s talent comes in hard, clean punching. He will need to attack Crawford to the body and try any way to slow him down. If I’m in Crawford’s corner, he will have to peck and poke and work on coming out even through the first six [rounds], then go after Canelo. He will need to force Canelo to spend more energy than he wants. Canelo has never really lost a close fight. History has shown that. I do believe Crawford can knock out Canelo.

“I think Canelo has slipped. Crawford is the better-conditioned athlete. He will need to pester Canelo, who doesn’t throw punches in combination anymore. Canelo will land a punch or two, and guys start running. Canelo has a great chin, but I also believe Crawford can stop Canelo late.”

Santos, who works with the Cuban expatriate Pero brothers, heavyweights Dainier and Lenier, opposed Alvarez when he worked Lara’s corner in their July 2014 fight. Santos has also worked at a couple of Alvarez's camps in Big Bear, California.

Like the other trainers here, Santos believes getting to Crawford early will be a key. He thinks Alvarez will try and walk Crawford down, and though Crawford has been known to switch from an orthodox to a southpaw stance, it will not affect Alvarez, who has been in front of every style there is.

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“I’m sure there will be rounds when Canelo cuts the ring off, and rounds when he takes some risks, because Canelo realizes this is a legacy fight,” Santos said. “I see this fight comparable to Oscar De La Hoya when he fought Bernard Hopkins. Oscar looked great early. His footwork looked great, his hand speed was great. Though little by little, Hopkins kept getting closer and closer. Finally, he stopped Oscar in the ninth. The same thing could happen here. Can Crawford win? Yes, but he has to fight a perfect fight to win. Canelo doesn’t.

“If I’m 'BoMac,' I’m telling Crawford to stay out of exchanges with Canelo. I don’t think Crawford is a bigger puncher than Lara. I don’t think he is a bigger puncher than (Dmitry) Bivol. They couldn’t do anything to Canelo. Canelo will be the size of a light heavyweight on fight night, around 182 [pounds], 185. Crawford may be around 170. He never carried that amount of weight for 12 rounds. Canelo could be 12 pounds heavier than Crawford. I like Canelo’s ability — he doesn’t have fast feet, but he has fast hands. Canelo carries the hand speed with the weight. That’s where Crawford will be in for a shock. Crawford has a tremendous heart and is a tremendous fighter. He is capable of beating Canelo.

“Will he? Probably not. Bud Crawford may realize that there are weight classes in boxing for a reason.”