Fans are biting their nails, eagerly hoping Terence Crawford pulls off the impossible. But here’s the catch: the weight class. Crawford, a super welterweight wizard, would need to leap two divisions to face Canelo Alvarez, who’s holding all the big-boy belts as the unified super middleweight champion. It’s no small feat—Crawford’s got a mountain to climb. And sure, he’s bulking up, reportedly hitting 186 lbs recently, but does that mean he’s got what it takes to match Canelo’s muscle and power in his division?

Now, the added weight might slow down Crawford’s famous footwork and quick reflexes—he’s not exactly built for a slugfest, and the more weight on him, the slower he could get. That’s music to Canelo’s ears, as he’s known for bulldozing through opponents. But hold on—Crawford’s got a trick or two up his sleeve. Our team at EssentiallySports has cracked the code with three strategies that could just flip the script. Let’s break ’em down.

Terence Crawford’s Hight IQ & Adaptability → Disrupts Canelo’s Rhythm

One of Terence Crawford’s biggest assets? His fight IQ—he’s got a mind for boxing like a chess player. He takes his time in the early rounds, sizing up his opponent like a hawk eyeing its prey, and gathering intel. Once he’s got the lay of the land, he shifts gears and starts picking apart weaknesses like a surgeon with a scalpel.

Canelo? He’s a methodical beast. He’s known for stalking opponents, patiently waiting for that perfect moment to land one of his signature counter-punches. But Crawford’s got the perfect recipe to throw a wrench in Canelo’s gears. The trick is to not fall into a predictable rhythm—something that gets under Canelo’s skin every time. If Terence Crawford starts by staying on the lighter side, feinting, and baiting Canelo Alvarez into missing, he’ll have the Mexican champion second-guessing his every move. By constantly mixing it up and keeping Canelo guessing, Crawford can frustrate the heck out of him, forcing Canelo to reset and struggle to get comfortable.

If Terence Crawford keeps this up, he could have Canelo Alvarez on the back foot, leaving the bigger guy trying to catch air instead of throwing punches.

Southpaw Stance & Switching Angles → Expose Canelo’s Defensive Gaps

One of Crawford’s secret weapons? His ability to switch stances is like a magician pulling rabbits out of a hat. He can go from orthodox to southpaw faster than you can say “surprise”. Canelo’s had his share of problems against elite southpaws like Erislandy Lara and Austin Trout—guys who are always moving, never standing still long enough for Canelo to land his big punches. That’s a gap Crawford can exploit like a pro.

Here’s the game plan: start in the orthodox stance, take the first few rounds to feel out Canelo, study his rhythm, and get a read on his moves. Once Crawford’s got a sense of Canelo’s style, he can flip the switch to southpaw, and that’s when the trouble starts for the Mexican superstar. He can circle to Canelo’s right side—the weak spot in his defense—and unload with quick left-handed counters, landing clean shots that’ll have Canelo second-guessing his every move. If Canelo tries to crank up the pressure, Crawford can easily flip back to orthodox, keeping Canelo constantly on the move.

The beauty of this strategy is Crawford’s smooth transitions. If Crawford keeps him on the defensive and makes him take risks, Canelo could start opening himself up for a beating he didn’t see coming.

Footwork & Lateral Movement → Avoid the Pocket, Keep Canelo Chasing

Terence Crawford’s footwork? It’s like trying to catch smoke. The man’s always on the move, cutting angles, and never letting himself get stuck in one spot. And that’s a huge advantage when you’re up against a guy like Canelo, who loves to press the action and trap his opponents in the pocket. Canelo’s a master at cornering fighters, but he’s not nearly as dangerous when he has to play catch-up around the ring.

So here’s Crawford’s playbook: keep moving laterally, never letting Canelo set his feet. After every combination, just step to the side and keep Canelo chasing the air. Every time he has to reset, it throws him off his game, and Crawford can land his punches without getting hit back. It’s like playing chess while Canelo’s still trying to figure out checkers.

But there’s more. Crawford’s got to start tagging Canelo’s body early. Canelo’s all about that knockout power, but if Crawford’s landing solid body shots, he could slow the champ down as the rounds tick by. The more Canelo has to chase Crawford, the less effective he’ll be at cutting off the ring and landing those devastating counters. And if this fight goes the distance, Crawford’s footwork and conditioning could be the deciding factor—he’s got the legs to make it a long night for Canelo Alvarez.

With that said, if Crawford can pull these strategies out of his hat, we might just see an upset for the ages. What do you think—are these game plans the secret sauce Terence Crawford needs or is he biting off more than he can chew? Drop your thoughts in the comments, we wanna hear your take!