According to Bob Arum, there used to be a time when
Canelo Alvarez was must-see TV.
The Mexican star was never a fan of unanimous decisions and pushed for knockouts. More times than not, he got them. Nowadays, those fan-pleasing stoppages have become more and more difficult.
Alvarez, before he walks through those ropes, would usually guarantee them. He promised to deliver unimaginable pain to
Edgar Berlanga and
Jermell Charlo. And, to a certain extent, he did. But, Arum points to both fighters reaching the final bell. His face also screws up in disgust when discussing
William Scull, his most recent opponent.
Arum was incredulous as he watched Scull
dance around the ring for 12 rounds. But he was also disappointed in Alvarez’s inability to cut off the ring effectively and punish him.
On Sept. 13,
The Ring will play host to his showdown against pound-for-pound star Terence Crawford. From the outside looking in, a matchup between the two has fireworks written all over it. But while fans are drooling and fantasizing over the action that could take place, Arum wants everyone to calm down and prepare for some serious disappointment.
"Canelo has shown in his last few fights that he's just a businessman," Arum told a group of reporters recently. "He's not there to entertain the public. He just takes the big check."
Crawford, 37, has rarely been in a dull fight. During his welterweight run, he knocked out every opponent.
Even against
Israil Madrimov during his junior middleweight debut in August, Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) pressed the action at times. By and large, he doesn't believe he'll have to change much of his fighting style, despite moving up two weight classes.
Arum, a former attorney in the New York area turned Hall of Fame promoter, isn't interested in throwing a bunch of questions in Crawford's face to gauge his willingness to bang and give fans a fight they'll never forget.
In Alvarez's case however, Arum's questions for him are seemingly endless.
"What Canelo is gonna show up? The Canelo who's looking to cash a big check? Or the Canelo that really wants to fight like a fighter? The Canelo we've seen the last few years is not only boring but doesn't really have an incentive to mix it up and entertain people with a good fight."