If Jermell Charlo Pulls Off an Upset Win Against Canelo Alvarez, How Will He Fare Against Terence Crawford in a Potential Fight?

Though he called himself a lion during the pre-fight press conference, to all intents and purposes, Jermell Charlo walks into the den tonight to tame a monster. But it beckons a question. What happens if he succeeds in conquering the monster? Besides the tons of money, a win ensures a page in history for the ‘Iron Man.’ He will become the second man to become an undisputed champion in two divisions. It might spark talk of the beginning of Canelo Alvarez‘s decline. But it also presents a blessing in disguise. Once again, fans and followers could witness a clash of the undisputed champions.

Terence Crawford is already on the lookout for the next opponent. On July 29, he wrecked Errol Spence Jr., the unified Welterweight title holder’s campaign to become an undisputed champion. Subsequently, the Omaha, Nebraska-born Southpaw shared his interests in pursuing either Jermell Charlo or Canelo Alvarez. Many fans would remember Crawford teasing Charlo while he brought down Spence Jr. on the big night.

Let’s pause for a second. Jermell Charlo does the unthinkable. He hands the third career loss to one of the most prominent ‘faces of boxing.’ Sometime later, he returns to the Light Middleweight to defend his titles from a hungry Terence Crawford, realizing his dream of becoming a three-division undisputed champion. Promoters agree and settle for the mega fight. But does ‘the Iron Man’ have enough ammo left in his arsenal to counter the foxy Nebraskan’s unremitting salvos?

What is Jermell Charlo getting himself into age, height, and records?

Let’s start with the basics. In all probability, Jermell Charlo will be meeting Terence Crawford at 154 pounds—a move for which the latter has expressed a willingness. But at 6 feet, the former stands tall compared to the Nebraskan at 5 feet and 8 inches. However, the two-division undisputed champion makes up for the disadvantage by having a slightly longer reach of 74″ or 188 centimeters against Charlo’s 73″ or 185 centimeters.

Regarding statistics, though he started his professional journey roughly a year after Charlo, Terence Crawford has, in his 15-year career, built an unmatchable and unbeaten record of 40 wins. More so, with 31 triumphs coming through knockouts, he enjoys an enviable 78% knockout-to-win rate. In contrast, ‘Iron Man’ has lost one battle—a title fight to Tony Harrison in 2018. Three years later, a title unification against Brian Castano ended in a draw.

Though the two instances raised questions, the fact remains that Charlo went back on the reversals and knocked out both Harrison and Castano during their rematches. Thus establishing a reputation for having the chin and grit to take back what he lost. However, regarding the knockout effect, out of his 35 wins, 16 came his way through decision; thus, with 19 early stoppages, his knockout-win rate remains at 54%. But a close look at his last five fights displays an increasing tilt towards landing a finishing blow.

A style honed over years

In Terence Crawford, Jermell Charlo meets not only the pound-for-pound best boxer in the world but also a complete fighter. Following the great Marvelous Marvin Hagler‘s tradition of switch-hitting, he has turned the move into art. Though he fights Southpaw, there’s no let-up in Crawford’s effectiveness when he changes his stance to Orthodox to meet and confuse the opponent head-on.

But one of the most ignored features of Terence Crawford remains his jabs, which he uses for distancing that he could later use to launch his deadly counter-strikes. Then, primarily relying on his footwork for defense, the Omaha Southpaw is often found pivoting and circling opponents. As the Spence Jr. fight proved, Crawford remains one of the most slippery boxers to target and hit.

The one who hits back

The most brilliant aspect of Terence Crawford’s fighting style remains his counter-punching. One doesn’t need to go too far in the past. It was his counter-punches that sealed the fate of Spence Jr. on July 29. Staying true to his style, the big Texan came charging, mano a mano but paid dearly. He was left searching for answers against Crawford’s counter-strikes, which he kept delivering with precision.

Clincher

A natural pressure fighter, a mere look at the record reveals that he is one of the top finishers of the modern era. He baits an opponent using a left or right hook during a counter. It forces the latter on the defensive. Once the opponent falls for it, the Nebraskan applies pressure by opening up a barrage of combinations, including head and body shots.

Perhaps the best attribute that defines Terence Crawford is his versatility. Irrespective of an opponent’s style, ‘Bud’ has a solution. Maybe it’s better to go back to the Spence Jr. fight. Many experts view that one of the biggest mistakes of the New York-born Southpaw was that he fought Crawford the way he fought others. He didn’t bring anything new to the table. On the other hand, the Nebraskan fought with a fluidity seldom witnessed in the recent past.

So what are Jermell Charlo’s chances against such a multifaceted fighter? Just like Canelo Alvarez now, the Houston native would be fighting in his stronghold. But there is a reason why Charlo stands alongside other elite boxers at the top of the hierarchy. Apart from the natural advantage, he has proven he is not a pushover over the years.

Prospects for Jermell Charlo

First and foremost, he is a true-blue orthodox boxer. Using a balanced stance, he keeps a high guard for defense. He keeps his hands at rest, allowing him to launch an immediate jab or left hook. A boxer-puncher, he prefers studying opponents to break them apart round-by-round with patience. Thus, unlike Crawford, he may not have a knockout rate to brag about.

Terence Crawford can hit an opponent from any angle, reducing his dependence on any strike. Jermell Charlo boasts a left hook that often reduces the trouble of going the distance. Take, for instance, what he did to Brian Castano during their rematch last year. In the tenth round, a left hook to the head dropped him to the canvas. Even though he got up, Charlo followed up with a combination of head-head-body, the last two delivered by the left hand.

The ‘Iron Man’ has repeatedly proved that he possesses an iron chin. But that only leads to doubts over his defensive preparedness. Quite often, he gets caught by a boxer charging in the bargain. However, as a last resort, he has reportedly started using shoulder rolls to deflect a punch.

To conclude, it is clear that both boxers have a superior ring IQ. They are more than willing to transform themselves into fighters about whom the opponent might not have any clue. However, that’s where similarities might end. Jermell Charlo, despite his record, is still a boxer who has improved with each fight. On the other hand, besides the spotless record, Terence Crawford has reached a level that is barely shy of perfection. So, on top of that, if he weighs up, Jermell Charlo has a grave challenge.

Read More: Will Canelo Alvarez Fight Be the Biggest Payday of $8,000,000 Champion Jermell Charlo’s Career?

In your opinion, who do you think would eventually have the upper hand in the triangular slugfest? Please share your thoughts and views with us in the comments below.

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