A former rival of Canelo Alvarez, Cuban fighter Erislandy Lara, has shared a tactical insight that could be key for Terence Crawford to achieve a historic victory on September 13 in Las Vegas
Lara, who faced Canelo in 2014 and lost by split decision, believes the American has a “good chance” if he avoids certain mistakes that he himself made.
Movement-based strategy
Lara has been clear: to be successful against Canelo, Crawford must keep moving and avoid letting the Mexican hit him in the arms
I Used My Legs Well in That Fight
However, he also admitted that his defensive style was too passive, which allowed the judges to favour Alvarez, who was more aggressive and landed the heavier blows.
The key, according to Lara, is not to allow Canelo to impose his physical power, especially in the early rounds. Crawford, known for his technical skill and ability to switch stances, could replicate Lara’s approach, but with greater dynamism and precision.
The risk of repeating mistakes
Although Lara believes the strategy can work, he also warns that he must not fall into the same over-cautiousness that hurt him in 2014. On that occasion, his “Tom and Jerry” style, as some critics call it, was seen as evasive and unattractive to the public and the judges. If Crawford opts to run too much, he could lose valuable points and the favor of the public at the Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas does not forgive fights without action, and with a purse of $50 million at stake, Crawford cannot afford to disappoint. Turki Alalshikh, the event’s promoter, has billed the fight as “The Fight of the Century,” which adds pressure for both boxers to put on a memorable show.
Lessons from the past
Lara also mentioned that his style was similar to the one William Scull used against Canelo recently, and that it also did not work. On both occasions, the Mexican managed to impose his rhythm and connect the most significant blows. That’s why mobility must be accompanied by offense, something Crawford will have to balance if he is to have a real chance.
“It’s a 50-50 fight,” said Lara, acknowledging the current strength of Canelo but also the tactical intelligence of Crawford. The American will have to prove that he can withstand the Mexican’s power over 12 rounds without losing effectiveness or initiative.
Erislandy Lara’s advice to Terence Crawford is clear: move, avoid arm punches and not repeat the mistake of being too defensive. If he manages to combine mobility with aggressiveness, he has a good chance of beating Canelo Alvarez in one of the most anticipated fights of the year.
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