Crawford vs. Canelo: The Fight That Redefined Modern Boxing

Carl Washington: The Man Behind Crawford’s Ambition

Carl Washington, the man who pushed Terence Crawford to pursue Canelo Álvarez, envisions what could be the last great fight of its kind. Washington, who calls Crawford “Bud”, is particularly excited about this fight that Crawford has longed for years: an opportunity to demonstrate his greatness before the most emblematic face of current boxing, Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez. Washington, owner of a boxing gym in downtown Omaha, is the right person to know what Crawford needs. It was he who, almost 30 years ago, asked a boy who lived next door if he wanted to box. That boy was Bud.

“I told him: ‘Do you know what your dream fight would be?’ Canelo. Then you and your grandchildren can retire”.

Carl Washington

While Washington talks, young boxers slowly fill the CW Boxing Club for their daily training. Some are professionals, but most are amateurs. They all dream of being world champions and recognize that being from Nebraska can cause them to be overlooked. Washington remembers a young Crawford as a “naughty boy”. He recounts how, in his first fight, frustration and anger led him to tears. Young Bud, furious from the blows, took off his gloves and wanted to fight bare-knuckled against his opponent. “Bud just started hitting him, he didn’t want to stop,” Washington recalls, pointing to the corner of the ring where the incident occurred. Crawford, although he now trains at his own gym in North Omaha, began his journey at the CW Boxing Club. For a long time, few outside of Omaha knew his name. Washington always knew that Bud would become a world champion. Years of waiting, boxing politics, and disputes between promoters kept Crawford away from the big fights. However, at 37 years old, he finally has the opportunity to participate in the kind of fight he had been waiting for. He had already won titles in super lightweight and welterweight, but this is a super fight, a battle between legends. Washington proudly displays the “historic wall” dedicated to Crawford in his gym. This wall exhibits photographs and newspaper clippings from his beginnings as an amateur boxer and young professional. It includes photos of the nine men who formed the “Crawford Team”, each with a phrase indicating the years they spent at the CW Boxing Gym. The oldest photo of Crawford shows him as a child, in a boxer’s pose, with gloves too big for his hands. Washington keeps two copies of this photo: one in the gym and another in the family Bible.

Title of the publication: Terence “Bud” Crawford started fighting as a child in his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska. For Bud, facing Canelo in the ring and defeating him has been a goal throughout his career.

Canelo Álvarez: The Pressure of Fame and Preparation for Battle

At the UFC gym in Reno, Nevada, Canelo Álvarez, with red hair, asks for the air conditioning to be turned off. Three weeks before the most important fight of the year and the most watched of his career, Canelo feels the pressure. Over the last decade, he has been the face of boxing, transforming from a promising teenager to a global brand. Canelo’s trainer, Eddy Reynoso, highlights the importance of avoiding injuries. A postponement of the fight against Crawford, which is described as the “Fight of the Century”, could cost hundreds of millions of dollars. For Canelo, who has reached an unavoidable level of fame, preparation is key. Canelo’s training has moved to the Sierra Nevada mountains, seeking isolation and altitude to improve his performance. His Mexican heritage plays an important role in boxing, which is a predominantly Latino sport. Canelo considers this fight crucial, as it could be his greatest achievement. The fight, broadcast by Netflix, heightens the spectacle and offers Crawford the opportunity to win. For Canelo, nearing the end of his career, losing would be devastating.

Title of the publication: Crawford weighed 167.5 pounds before the super middleweight title fight against Álvarez, who fought at the same weight, on September 13. This was Crawford’s highest career weight, as he made the jump from his previous divisions for the fight.

The Legacy of Boxing in Reno: From Racial Tension to the Present

In Reno, a historical marker on E. 4th Street commemorates the 1910 fight between Jack Johnson and Jim Jeffries. This match, amidst racial tensions in the United States, was a milestone. The fight took place in Reno due to a ban in California, and it became a key event for Nevada’s economy. Boxing, in its early days, took place in clandestine locations. The 1897 fight between James J. Corbett and Bob Fitzsimmons marked a change. The Johnson-Jeffries fight attracted more than 20,000 people and had significant consequences. Johnson’s victory sparked racial riots across the country, highlighting the struggle for equality. The wooden amphitheater where the fight took place has disappeared, but the historical marker persists, although deteriorated. Today, that place is a junkyard.

Title of the publication: Jim Jeffries was dubbed the “Great White Hope” in heavyweight boxing when he came out of retirement to fight Jack Johnson, the first black heavyweight champion, at the height of the Jim Crow era for what was then promoted as the “Fight of the Century”.

The American Century and Boxing: Between Ideals and Realities

In 1941, Henry R. Luce, co-founder of Time and Life magazines, urged Americans to embrace a future led by the United States. He promoted the idea of the “American Century,” with a belief in ideals such as economic determinism and the role of the United States as a global benefactor. Joe Louis, the second black heavyweight champion, appeared on the cover of Time, reflecting the importance of boxing. Nowadays, boxing remains a relevant sport, especially for the Latino community.

Title of the publication: Boxing becomes a postponed dream for some. John “Juanito” Ornelas was scheduled on the Crawford vs. Álvarez card, but was withdrawn weeks before his debut on the big stage for one of the most important fights of the century.

Juanito Ornelas: A Stolen Dream in the Shadow of Greatness

John “Juanito” Ornelas, with his voice breaking from the effort, looked for water in the stifling heat. At the Dynamite Boxing Club in Chula Vista, far from the natural beauty of the area, the reality is harsh. Ornelas and his trainer, Gilbert Roybal, are proud of what they have achieved in this cruel business. While boxers like Canelo and Crawford earn millions, many struggle to survive. Ornelas dreamed of fighting in Las Vegas, on a night like Canelo-Crawford. His dream was to honor his brother, Pablo Armenta, who was a professional boxer and always longed for the big leagues. However, fate played a trick on him. Ornelas, who was going to fight on the Canelo-Crawford card, was replaced. He was offered money to give up his place, an insignificant sum compared to his dream. On the day of the fight, he wandered around Las Vegas, surrounded by family and friends who had traveled to see him fight. Alakel, Ornelas’ replacement, won by unanimous decision. Ornelas didn’t watch the fight, but he imagined himself in the ring, with millions of people watching him. He felt replaceable, a victim of a system that snatched away the opportunity of his life.

Title of the post: Ornelas, a construction worker by profession, sacrificed weeks of work and income to prepare for the fight of his life. His shoes, still pristine, are a reminder of what could have been.

The Evolution of Transmission: From Cinema to Streaming

Technology has transformed the way big fights are transmitted and consumed. The 1897 fight between Corbett and Fitzsimmons was captured on film, considered the first feature film. It attracted a wider audience and opened up new avenues of income for boxers and promoters. After the cinema, came the radio, with the broadcast of the Dempsey-Carpentier fight in 1921. Dempsey became a star, even bigger than Babe Ruth in the 1920s. From telegrams to newspapers, from cinema to radio, from television to closed-circuit transmissions and then to pay-per-view, each technological advance marked a new era. In 2018, streaming joined this evolution, with Canelo signing a $365 million contract with DAZN, the largest contract for a professional athlete at that time.

Title of the publication: It is estimated that 90,000 fans attended the 1921 heavyweight title fight between Dempsey and Carpentier. While 70,482 fans watched Canelo vs. Crawford live at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, it set a new record for the largest boxing crowd in Nevada

Canelo vs. Crawford: The Climax

In Allegiant Stadium, anticipation is palpable. Months of promotion, from Saudi Arabia to Nevada, culminate in this moment. They strip away the paraphernalia, and only two men remain fighting. In the intermediate rounds, Crawford will feel the power and strength of Canelo, which are his greatest advantages so far.