Coach Abel Sánchez dismissed Terence Crawford's chances against Canelo Álvarez and said that the American's weight gain could turn the fight into a simple sparring session for the Mexican champion.

Abel Sánchez casts doubt on Crawford

Renowned Mexican trainer Abel Sánchez has reignited the hype surrounding the highly anticipated fight between Saúl ‘Canelo’ Álvarez and Terence Crawford, scheduled for September 13 in Las Vegas. Speaking to The Ring, the former trainer of Gennady Golovkin said that the challenge is practically impossible for the American.

“Crawford is a great fighter, but that's why weight divisions exist. Canelo has proven that when he moves up, he faces and beats the best in each category. Neither Bivol could hurt him, nor could my fighter in two fights,” Sánchez said.

The weight jump, the big disadvantage

Crawford, with an undefeated record of 41-0 (31 KOs), agreed to move up to 168 pounds to challenge the undisputed super middleweight champion. However, Sánchez pointed out that the American was fighting at 140 pounds just a few years ago, while Álvarez has patiently built his strength in higher weight classes.

“If Crawford had taken three or four years to gain strength and mass properly, he would have a better chance. But doing it in just over a year is too risky. He'll be slower, and Canelo will dictate the pace,” the trainer added.

An unequal fight?

Sánchez was even more blunt in predicting the outcome:

“After the fifth or sixth round, this is going to look like a sparring session. Canelo will do whatever he wants in the ring,” he said.

Despite the criticism, the fight is still considered one of the most important in recent years. Both boxers are ranked among the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, making this match a must-see event for boxing fans.