Fans and pundits alike were surprised by Canelo’s performance, as many expected the seasoned champion to dominate. Instead, Crawford’s tactical approach exposed gaps in strategy and execution, leading to one of the most scrutinized fights of Canelo’s career.

Among those sharing sharp insights is Juan Manuel Marquez, a former world champion and one of boxing’s most respected tacticians. Marquez knows what it takes to overcome elite opponents, and he was candid in assessing Canelo’s shortcomings.

What did Marquez see in Canelo’s performance?

Reflecting on the fight, Marquez told Izquierdazo, “Canelo Alvarez lacked strategy, he lacked a corner, so to speak. He needed a bit more guidance, something like: ‘Don’t just throw power shots, throw combinations. Crawford is hitting you—counterpunch too, you know how to do it well.’”

He continued, “And Canelo does counterpunch well, so in that sense he needed a bit more strategy, a proper game plan. Maybe they were overconfident that weight would be a deciding factor, that power punches alone would do the job. But the strategy was missing.”

Marquez’s critique highlights that despite Canelo’s natural power and experience, boxing at the highest level requires both preparation and adaptability. The fight showcased how a lack of tactical adjustments can leave even the most accomplished fighters exposed.

Analysts and fans share the same concern

Other experts echoed Marquez’s observations, pointing to Canelo’s passivity during key moments of the bout. Analysts noted that relying solely on physical advantage and knockout power was insufficient against Crawford, who demonstrated skill, timing, and poise far beyond expectations.

For a fighter of Canelo’s caliber, these criticisms underline the importance of a cohesive game plan, strategic cornering, and in-fight adaptability—a combination that could define his future success against elite opponents.

Mexico has a rich boxing history, producing some of the sport’s most iconic names. For many fans, Julio Cesar Chavez is still regarded as the best of all time, but Canelo Alvarez has built a strong case to challenge that status.

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez has had an outstanding career. He’s moved up and down in weight classes to collect championship belts in various divisions. Yet, despite his accomplishments, not everyone sees him as Mexico’s greatest boxer.

Juan Manuel Marquez leaves Canelo off his all-time Mexican boxing list

Over the course of his career, Canelo Alvarez has faced several elite opponents. However, critics argue that many of them were past their prime when they met him in the ring—claiming he capitalized on timing rather than taking on fighters at their peak.

While it’s true that Alvarez has avoided certain opponents at their best, his collection of titles across four weight classes still cements his status as one of boxing’s all-time greats.

Still, not everyone agrees.

In a surprising move, Juan Manuel Marquez, an eight-time world champion, excluded Canelo Alvarez from his list of the best Mexican boxers of all time—a decision that has sparked widespread debate.

“Difficult,” Marquez said for ProBox in 2022 on who were the best Mexican boxers ever. “Mexico’s boxing history is very rich. It’s hard to name just five. Ruben Olivares, Carlos Zarate, Lupe Pintor, Salvador Sanchez, to name a few. (Marco Antonio) Barrera, (Erik) Morales, Chavez. I put myself at the end.

“Julio Cesar Chavez is number one. There’s also Ruben Olivares, Ricardo Lopez. It’s hard to name five, but number one is Julio Cesar Chavez. ‘La Chiquita’ Gonzalez as well.”

Marquez’s list is certainly respectable, but fans have begun to question whether his omission of Canelo is rooted in a personal rivalry or deeper differences. Whatever the reason, the snub has reignited the debate over who truly deserves to be called the greatest Mexican fighter of all time.

Canelo, who is coming off a win over Edgar Berlanga in September to regain his unified super middleweight titles, is preparing to face William Scull in May, seeking the IBF belt and total unification at 168 pounds. Crawford, meanwhile, is coming off a unanimous decision win over Israil Madrimov in August, winning the WBA super welterweight title and becoming a world champion in four divisions.

Now, he faces the challenge of moving up two divisions, from 154 to 168 pounds, to face Canelo in a fight that will test his limits. The opinion of Juan Manuel Marquez, a Mexican boxing legend, adds a crucial dimension to the analysis of the fight.

Mexican boxing legend’s prediction

Juan Manuel Marquez, a Mexican boxing icon with a career full of historic fights, including his famous tetralogy with Manny Pacquiao, has expressed skepticism about Crawford’s chances. Marquez, who was also a world champion in four divisions from featherweight to super lightweight, shared his thoughts with FightHype, arguing that the weight difference will be a deciding factor.

“In the sport of boxing, we have divisions. Two divisions is too big for Crawford. Crawford thinks the money is the most important thing for this fight,” Marquez said.

Crawford’s motivations and the challenge of facing Canelo

Juan Manuel Marquez suggests that Terence Crawford’s main motivation for accepting the fight is financial. “I think Crawford thinks currently the most important thing for me is my bank account is good,” Márquez said.

Alvarez receives theawardafterhaving a tremendous year in which he has cleaned up the Super middleweight division in less than 12 months. His coach, Eddy Reynoso, also won the recognition as the Trainer of the Yearafter receiving the same recognition in 2019.

The Ring magazinewas established in 1922, and six years later, it started to award the best boxer of the world yearly. The panel that chooses the winners is made up of a group of ten expertsin boxing thataward 10 different categories such as Fighter of the Year, Trainer of the Year, Fight and Knockout of the Year.

Why has Canelo made history by being awarded as The Ring Fighter of the Year 2021?

Only 9 Latin American boxers have been awarded by The Ring as the Fighter of the Year. The first one wasJose AngelMantequillaNapoles, a Cuban-Mexican Welterweight Champion, in 1969. Since then, glorious and legendary names received the prize, such as Argentinian Carlos Monzon, Puerto Rican FelixTitoTrinidad,and MexicansSalvador Sanchez, Julio Cesar Chavez, and Juan Manuel Marquez.

However, none of the mentioned boxingall-time greats could win the award twice until Canelo appeared. Alvarez has been named Fighter of the Year in 2019 and 2021, and with only 31 years old, he could win more of thisawards in theshort future.

The boxer with the most Fighter of Year recognition is far away from Canelo. Muhammad Ali, the Greatest, is the boxer with most of these awards won with 6 (1963, 1966, 1972, 1974, 1975, and 1978). The following ones with more individual recognitions received by The Ring magazine are Joe Louis(4),Rocky Marziano(3),Joe Frazier(3), Evander Holyfield(3), and Manny Pacquiao(3).

ThefullRing magazine 2021 awards list

-Fighter of the Year: Canelo Alvarez

-Fight of the Year: Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder

-Knockout of the Year: Gabriel Rosado KO 3 Bektemir Melikuziev

-Round of the Year: Tyson Fury vs Deontay Wilder(Round 4)

-Trainer of the Year: Eddy Reynoso

-Upset of the Year: George Kambosos Jr. win to Teofimo Lopez (Split Decision-12 rounds)

-Event of the Year: Anthony JoshuavsOleksandr Usyk

-Comeback of the Year: Kiko Martinez

-Prospect of the Year: Brandun Lee

-Performance of the Year: Shakur Stevenson vs Jamel Herring (TKO- round 10)

*Most inspirational: Bob Arum