Is Terence Crawford Too Old And Too Small For Canelo At 168? Efe Ajagba Discusses It

Efe Ajagba says it’s going to be “tough” for Terence Crawford to maneuver as much as 168 to struggle in a international weight class that he’s by no means competed at throughout his 17-year professional profession on September thirteenth. Though Ajagba feels that Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) is “sturdy,” it’s nonetheless going to be an issue for him leaping up two divisions.

Age, Weight Towards Crawford

Crawford solely just lately moved up from welterweight to junior middleweight final yr. His struggle towards Israil Madrimov at 154 final August confirmed that his energy and velocity had deteriorated from how he’d carried out at 147. This will probably be extra pronounced at tremendous middleweight [168], until Crawford develops newfound power. That’s uncommon for a fighter nearing 40 and looking out 50.

Crawford’s energy is insufficient for the 168-lb division. He couldn’t knock out Madrimov because of the lack of pop, and now he’s preventing Canelo, who has fought at 175 towards Sergey Kovalev and Dmitry Bivol. It’s not like Crawford can go to Walmart and buy some energy earlier than September thirteenth.

“He’s sturdy, however while you transfer as much as the load [168], it’s going to be tough so that you can struggle,” stated Efe Ajagba to Sean Zittel about Terence Crawford shifting up two weight courses from 154 to struggle Canelo Alvarez at 168.

Ajagba understands what a transfer like this could be like for Crawford. He is aware of that he’ll be taking too massive of a leap up, and he’s not younger. Once more, Crawford seems to be a 50-year-old man now. He’s lived a tough life within the ring, and it exhibits bodily on him.

Canelo’s Weight Class Benefit

“Once you transfer up in weight to struggle Canelo, that’s not your weight class. That’s not what you used to struggle earlier than,” stated Ajagba. “So, he’s not going to be comfy, however Canelo goes to be comfy at this weight to struggle Crawford. I want Crawford to come back down.”

Crawford’s Deteriorating Energy

Powerwise, Bud Crawford was excellent at 135, 140, and 147, however solely common at 154. He correctly skipped 160, the place he would have been dramatically underpowered, and now he’s shifting to 168. He’s going to be on the low spectrum and be compelled to depend on his jab as his fundamental weapon towards Canelo.

Crawford can’t afford to face within the middle of the ring againt Canelo as a result of he’ll have holes punched by him. Crawford’s face seemed overwhelmed up from ‘Little GGG’ Madrimov, and he’s not on Alvarez’s stage.