Boxing: Canelo vs. Crawford, Taylor-Serrano 3 and the Pound-for-Pound King

Explosive Boxing Card: Analysis of the Most Anticipated Fights

The boxing calendar is packed with high-caliber matchups in the coming months, promising strong emotions for fans. Three fights stand out above the rest: Canelo Álvarez vs. Terence Crawford, for the undisputed super middleweight championship; the rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois; and the trilogy between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano.

Other renowned boxers will also be in action, including the undisputed super featherweight champion, Naoya Inoue, and the super flyweight champion, Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez. In addition, the return of former champions such as Manny Pacquiao and Jermall Charlo is expected.

Alofoke Deportes presents a deep analysis of these matchups, with expert predictions so you don’t miss any details.

What is the Most Attractive Fight?

With so many important fights on the horizon, the million-dollar question is: Which is the most attractive matchup? Will we see a new pound-for-pound king at the end of the year? Which boxer has the greatest chance of causing an upset? Which mega-fight would be perfect to close out 2024 with a flourish?

Below, Andreas Hale and Nick Parkinson share their perspectives and predictions.

Currently, the best matchup on the boxing calendar is…

Andreas Hale and Nick Parkinson

Parkinson: Canelo vs. Crawford. Two of the best boxers of this era will face each other with different strategies on September 13th. Canelo, 34, undisputed super middleweight champion, has the advantage of power and experience, while Crawford, former undisputed champion at 140 and 147 pounds, moves up two weight classes, after only one fight at 154 pounds. Álvarez won his first 168-pound title seven years ago and has won world titles in four weight classes during a career of almost 20 years. However, Álvarez’s most recent fight, a decision victory over William Scull earlier this month, hinted at a decline. He hasn’t achieved a knockout victory since November 2021. Crawford, 37, also a world champion in four divisions, might have operated in smaller weight divisions, but has a reach advantage and better boxing skills. It’s a physical Canelo versus a technical Crawford, and this fight could be decided by the narrowest margin.Hale: Canelo vs. Crawford is a must-see fight, but Taylor vs. Serrano 3 could be the best of the year. Considering how close, and incredibly exciting, their first two fights were, there’s no reason to think the third encounter will be anything less than a fireworks display. The first two fights were decision victories for Taylor, but one could argue the series could easily be 2-0 in Serrano’s favor. So, here we are, with both boxers having something to prove and made for each other. Taylor will be 39 when she steps into the ring, but she doesn’t seem to have lost a step, while Serrano, a champion in seven boxing divisions, has more mileage at 36, but seems as energetic as before their first encounter in 2022. It’s worth mentioning that the performance of these women as headliners of an all-female card at Madison Square Garden could have a big influence on the future of women’s boxing. There’s a lot at stake for them individually and for the sport on a large scale when they face each other on July 11th.

Who Has the Greatest Chance of Causing an Upset?

Hale: Calling it a surprise indicates there’s a clear underdog in the fight, so I’m going with Dubois over Usyk. This is due less to the controversial low blow that dropped Usyk in their August 2023 encounter and more to the fact that Dubois seems to be entering his physical prime. It feels like the 27-year-old Dubois has been around forever, but he only turned professional in 2017 and the two knockout losses, to Usyk in 2023 and Joe Joyce in 2020, shouldn’t define his career. We might have seen the Brit at his best when he completely steamrolled Anthony Joshua last September, and the confidence he gained from that fifth-round knockout victory should carry over into his rematch with Usyk, ESPN’s No. 1 pound-for-pound boxer. Dubois knows what to expect after sharing nine rounds with Usyk and may have Father Time as his secret weapon, considering the undisputed two-division champion turned 38 in January. Dubois will need to be near perfect to break down the brilliant ring tactician that is Usyk, but he knows how to get to him and will have a chance to shock the world on July 19 at Wembley Stadium in London.Parkinson: Crawford’s movement, ring IQ, and elegant boxing may earn him a points victory if he can stay out of range. Álvarez wasn’t at his usual level in his last fight, a decision win over William Scull on May 3 in Saudi Arabia, but he will be better in front of a larger and more enthusiastic crowd in Las Vegas. However, the difference in this fight will be Crawford’s ability to control the distance. Three years ago, Dmitry Bivol outpointed Canelo at light heavyweight when he used his reach and jab to outmaneuver and outbox Álvarez. Crawford has the skills in his arsenal to do the same. He is sharp and enjoys a four-inch reach advantage. He can use his footwork to make sure he avoids Canelo’s dangerous body attacks. Crawford might be moving up two weight classes to face Canelo, but he can circle away from punches and land quick counterpunches. Crawford’s technical brilliance and footwork will be enough to secure a narrow decision victory.

The Ideal Fight to Close the Year

Parkinson: For the past five years, like many fight fans, I’ve wanted to see English heavyweight rivals Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua share a ring. But we’re still waiting, and the fight is losing some of its appeal. Instead of putting Fury vs. Joshua at the top of my wish list, I’ll go for an all-Japanese showdown between undisputed super-featherweight champion Inoue and Junto Nakatani, the WBC bantamweight king. Nakatani faces Ryosuke Nishida, the IBF champion, in a title unification fight on June 8, and if he wins, the demand will intensify for a showdown with Inoue. Nakatani, a three-weight world champion and ESPN’s No. 9 pound-for-pound boxer, scored a third-round knockout victory over David Cuellar in February, and it looks like he’ll stay on track for a December showdown against Inoue. Inoue, ESPN’s No. 2 pound-for-pound boxer and a four-division world champion, has racked up 11 consecutive knockout victories, and a matchup with Nakatani would produce an uncompromising, frenetic, and furious encounter.

Hale: Considering that it’s unlikely we’ll see David Benavidez get his shot against Alvarez or a chance against the winner of Dmitry Bivol-Artur Beterbiev 3 before the end of the year, I’ll switch gears with my pick and go with Jaron “Boots” Ennis vs. Vergil Ortiz Jr. at 154 pounds. These two have been looking for each other for years and are often left out of the conversation as the future of boxing in favor of Gervonta “Tank” Davis, Shakur Stevenson, Devin Haney, and Teofimo Lopez (sorry, Ryan Garcia). But between Ortiz’s game-changing power and Ennis’s sheer athleticism, this is a matchup that can finally happen this year. Ennis, the IBF and WBA welterweight champion, has been a target for Lopez, but it’s pretty obvious that Ennis would be more comfortable competing at 154 pounds, where Ortiz currently holds the WBC interim belt. The junior middleweight division is a bit messy with Crawford currently in possession of the WBA title and Sebastian Fundora defending the WBO and WBC belts against Tim Tszyu in a rematch on July 19, but Ennis-Ortiz doesn’t need a title attached to be compelling. This fight doesn’t need to marinate; it just needs to happen.

Who Will Finish the Year at the Top of ESPN’s Pound-for-Pound Ranking?

Hale: Crawford. If “Bud” Crawford does what I expect him to do and beats Canelo to become undisputed in a third weight class, how can you deny him his place at the top of the rankings? As good as the current number 1, Usyk, is, he can’t move up in weight to do what Crawford is attempting in September. And the current number 2, Inoue, doesn’t have an opponent lined up who is as accomplished as Canelo is. Crawford, currently ranked third, has all the tools needed not only to beat Canelo, but also to become the first boxer to stop the Mexican superstar. He has an absolutely nasty streak that could exploit Canelo’s declining punch output as the fight progresses. The size difference won’t be as important as some claim, and Crawford could potentially make this look easy. The only thing that has kept Crawford from being at the top of the list is inactivity, and that will be remedied once he steps into the ring with Canelo.Parkinson: Usyk, after closing out his career with two world title defenses this year, will remain on top. Inoue will be well-positioned to take over once Usyk fulfills his plan to retire after two more fights, although Crawford will also have a strong argument to be No. 1 if he beats Alvarez in September. But until Usyk retires, his achievements will remain ahead of the rest. First up for Usyk is a rematch on July 19 with Dubois, whom Usyk knocked out two years ago. Usyk looks too good to be troubled by Dubois, and a final fight against Joseph Parker likely awaits later this year. Usyk has beaten some big names (Joshua and Fury twice each), after also achieving undisputed status at cruiserweight. He will go down in history as the best heavyweight of his era if he finishes his career with an unblemished record.