It is surprising, but the boxing world is on fire after ESPN‘s recent publication, which placed Mexican fighter Canelo Alvarez ahead of Terence Crawford in its list of the best boxers of this century. The news not only heats up the preview of the highly anticipated fight on September 13 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, but also revives an eternal debate among boxing fans: who has done more in the ring?
Both champions are living legends. With a combined record of 104 wins, just two losses, two draws and 70 knockouts, they have won world titles in eight different divisions and established themselves as icons of a generation. Beyond the belts, they have faced historic rivals and generated multi-million dollar fortunes, especially Canelo, whose legacy already transcends statistics.
Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford
Ahead of the fight in Las Vegas, many analysts agree that Canelo Alvarez has more to lose than his opponent. The Mexican will put his status as the undisputed super middleweight champion on the line, while Crawford will move up several weight classes to face him. This difference means that even in the event of defeat, the American will have a natural “excuse”: the disadvantage of size and weight.
In contrast, for Canelo, the situation is different. His position as an established figure and his legacy already written in boxing history seem to shield him. Even if he falls to Crawford, the magnitude of his career would hardly be affected. However, a victory over an undefeated fighter like “Bud” would reinforce his narrative as one of the greatest of all time.
Canelo in the Top 5
ESPN’s analysis, published on September 3, placed Canelo at number five, ahead of Crawford, who appeared at number seven. The ranking was headed by Floyd Mayweather Jr, followed by Manny Pacquiao and Bernard Hopkins. Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk, the current undisputed heavyweight champion, took fourth place, just ahead of Canelo.
The list continued with Andre Ward in sixth place, Crawford in seventh, Juan Manuel Marquez in eighth, Roy Jones Jr. in ninth and Japan’s Naoya Inoue rounding out the top 10.
Among other notable names, Oscar De La Hoya was ranked 15th, Tyson Fury 17th, while Katie Taylor and Claressa Shields, the highest ranked women, were 21st and 23rd respectively.
Canelo Alvarez over an undefeated fighter
Although ESPN may have waited for the outcome of the fight to publish this ranking, its decision to place Canelo Alvarez above an undefeated fighter such as Terence Crawford has further fueled the expectation of the fans. Every new analysis, every list and every comment stokes the conversation about who deserves to be considered the best boxer of this era.
The only thing for sure is that on September 13, boxing will experience a historic night in Las Vegas, where two undisputed champions will look to leave their mark on history.
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