Vergil Ortiz is confident when picking the outcome of the upcoming clash between Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Terence Crawford.
The pair will square off this Saturday in Las Vegas’s Allegiant Stadium for the undisputed super middleweight title. Crawford is being picked by many to upset Alvarez after the Mexican’s poor showing against William Scull back in May in which he reclaimed his IBF strap to become a two-time undisputed champion. Crawford has also held all four belts twice, once at junior welterweight, and once at welterweight before moving up to defeat WBA 154lb champion Israel Madrimov in August last year. Now Crawford is jumping up two weights to face Alvarez and Ortiz, who was once biting at the heels of Crawford for a title shot at 147lbs, believes that will be a telling factory.
“Competitive fight. I don't see Crawford winning,” Ortiz told BoxingScene. “I think he can win but I just don't think that it will happen. Solely based off of the fact that Canelo is just bigger. Do I think that Crawford can beat some of the super middleweights out there? Yeah, for sure. I believe he can and I believe he can become world champion at 168. But, you know, Canelo was also considered at one point the number one fighter in the world. So it's not like Crawford is going up and fighting some random 168. He's fighting Canelo who has not only the strength and the size, but he has IQ on him and he has experience and he also has speed. It's not like he's some slow moving 168 fighter.”
“So I think that people are underestimating the skill of Canelo but I also think people are underestimating the size difference. Now, I know I just contradicted myself in a way. It's kind of hard to explain. But, it's not like I think Crawford is going to get blown out because of the size difference. I just think that it’s not as close as what people think. I think the average enjoyer of boxing either thinks that Crawford’s going to blow Canelo out or Canelo's going to knock that shit out of Crawford. I don't think any of those are true. No.”
Crawford has been inactive, and there were rumors that he would call it a day if he could not land a bumper pay day and a shot at greatness with Alvarez. Ortiz believes this will be the last time we see Crawford in a ring.
“I think he's done. I mean, I know he's hinted at coming back, but I think he might be done,” he said. “If I was a two-time undisputed champion and I fought Canelo for a third undisputed and win or lose I'm done. I would be. Just get out of the sport healthy with money paid and just live life.”
Alvarez has brought in Ortiz’s rival at 154lbs, Jarron ‘Boots’ Ennis, to help prepare him for Crawford.
“I think that's cool,” said Ortiz. “You know, I think that it's really cool to be able to spar the best. It's always a good thing and you can learn from that.”
