4 days ago
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Ryan Garcia has cast doubt over Canelo Alvarez's ability to rise to the occasion against Terence Crawford, questioning whether the Mexican superstar still has the same fire that defined his prime years.
Speaking on Inside the Ring, the former WBC interim lightweight champion delivered a candid assessment of Canelo's recent performances.
He insisted that the undisputed super middleweight king may no longer be able to summon the relentless drive that once made him one of boxing's most feared fighters.
'My problem with Canelo is his intensity,' Garcia said. 'He doesn't have the same intensity that he used to have, and I think that's gonna be the biggest issue for me.
'Can he still counterpunch? Yes. Can he still be slick? Yes. But does he have the energy and the intensity that he used to have when he was younger, or even when he fought Caleb Plant?'
Garcia, who has often praised Canelo in the past, suggested that age and mileage may now be catching up with him.
Ryan Garcia (pictured above) has cast doubt over Canelo Alvarez 's ability to rise to the occasion against Terence Crawford
Canelo (left) and Crawford (right) will go toe-to-toe at the Allegiant Stadium on Saturday night
Though Canelo remains one of the sport's most technically polished fighters, Garcia believes the extra gears required in a high-stakes war could be missing.
'For me, it's like, is he going to be able to have that second, third effort? Because that's the problem [Canelo] has,' Garcia continued.
'When [Dmitry] Bivol gave him three extra movements and three extra shots [in their 2022 title fight], Canelo ended up doing weird defensive moves that got him out of position. I'm like, 'What the heck? What's going on here?'
Garcia pointed to Canelo's unanimous decision loss to Dmitry Bivol in May 2022 as evidence of this potential decline.
That night in Las Vegas, the bigger Russian champion repeatedly frustrated Canelo with sharp combinations and footwork, leaving the Mexican star looking flat and hesitant down the stretch.
The defeat was only Canelo's second in more than a decade - after his loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr in 2013 - but for many observers, including Garcia, it marked a noticeable shift in his aura of invincibility.
While Canelo has since bounced back with victories over Gennady Golovkin, John Ryder, Jaime Munguia and more, critics argue he has not displayed the same explosive tempo that once dismantled the likes of Sergey Kovalev.
Those lingering questions will be tested like never before when Canelo collides with Terence Crawford this weekend in Las Vegas.
Garcia pointed to Canelo's unanimous decision loss to Dmitry Bivol in May 2022 as evidence of this potential decline
The Omaha native, undefeated across three divisions, is regarded by many as the best fighter in the world pound-for-pound… and will not allow Canelo to coast
The Omaha native, undefeated across three divisions, is regarded by many as the best fighter in the world pound-for-pound… and will not allow Canelo to coast.
Garcia's comments add intrigue to an already historic showdown, raising the possibility that Crawford's speed, angles and relentless pressure could expose the very vulnerabilities that Bivol revealed.
For Canelo, victory on Saturday would silence those doubts and reaffirm his place as the sport's biggest draw.
But for Garcia, the true battle may not just be against Crawford, but against Father Time.
