The Hunt For Easy Prey: Jackson Declares Canelo’s Crawford Fight A Cherry-Pick

Trainer John David Jackson says Canelo Alvarez’s choice of Terence Crawford is another example of his cherry-picking an opponent that he believes he can beat.

Jackson states that for the last two years, Canelo (63-2-2, 39 KOs) has routinely been carefully selecting his opposition. He notes that Alvarez hasn’t fought a top-caliber opponent in a while.

Canelo’s Weakened Foe

In Crawford’s case, Canelo has chosen the right time to fight him with the Nebraska native turning 38 in September, looking old, and coming off a career-worst performance against Israil Madrimov a year ago on August 3, 2024. You could tell from that fight that Crawford has lost a lot from his game, as he was eating right hands from Madrimov like they were they were candy.

The selection of Crawford, with him showing age, being inactive, and exposed in his last fight, shows that Canelo hasn’t lost his touch in selecting his opponent. He didn’t fight Gennadiy Golovkin until GGG was 36, despite him pushing for a fight from 32.

Jackson on Alvarez’s Cherry-Picking

“Canelo has been cherry-picking for a long time now. He’s cherry-picking with this fight. He’s got a smaller guy he thinks he can beat up. Why didn’t he pick Benavidez?” said trainer John David Jackson to Secondsout about Canelo Alvarez fighting Terence Crawford. “Set traps for him and don’t be there after he set that trap,” said Jackson about what Crawford should do.”

Jackson is 100% correct. Alvarez has been picked an old, smaller fighter, getting off a yearlong layoff, and having only fought five times in the last five years. Ambition long gone, chances of beating any of the skillers at 154, zero.

If not for Turki Alalshikh throwing Crawford a lifeline here by paying him a goldmine for his fight last year against Madrimov and his undeserved title shot against Canelo on September 13th, Bud would be food for the young sharks at 154.

“Box him. You don’t have to go for a knockout. Just outbox him. Crawford is a smart fighter. It’s a very tricky fight. I give Crawford a hell of a shot. I would say he’s slipping because he hasn’t fought top-caliber opponents in the last couple of years,” said Jackson about Canelo. “I wouldn’t say he’s soft, but he’s definitely not the fighter he once was. He hasn’t had a big fight in a while.

“This fight, he might get up for. He’s getting older. He isn’t old, but he’s getting up in age. This fight might get up where he’s the best he can be, but I just don’t see it,” said Jackson.