Canelo and Crawford set for Las Vegas showdown as experts split on who will prevail

Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez will defend his undisputed super-middleweight crown against Terence Crawford at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Saturday, setting up a high-profile clash between two of modern boxing's most decorated fighters.

The bout, scheduled for the evening of 13 September local time, drew sharply contrasting views from boxing figures asked by BBC Sport to predict the outcome. Coverage and live text commentary begins at 03:00 BST on Sunday 14 September on BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app.

Alvarez, 35, enters with 63 wins from 67 professional fights, along with two draws and two defeats, and has long established himself as a dominant force at super-middleweight. Crawford, 37, remains unbeaten and is a four-division world champion who has been undisputed at two weights. For this fight he has moved up two weight classes in pursuit of another legacy-defining victory.

An overwhelming number of the boxing figures consulted predicted Crawford would edge the contest, citing his movement, boxing IQ, ability to switch stances and rangy reach. Former world champion Amir Khan said Crawford's skill, movement and balance would be decisive. Trainer Dave Coldwell pointed to Crawford's lateral movement and stance-switching ability and described Alvarez as "slow-footed" in the current phase of his career. British fighters and trainers including Harlem Eubank, Callum Simpson and Ziyad Almaayouf also backed Crawford, highlighting his unorthodox style and mental adaptability.

Several contributors detailed why Crawford could neutralise Alvarez despite the size difference. Dillian Whyte highlighted Crawford's accuracy, defensive soundness and physical strength, saying the American could cope with Alvarez's power. Anthony Crolla suggested the fight could become "a chess match" in which Crawford's versatility and timing would give him a points advantage. Others predicted Crawford could absorb occasional heavy shots and return to a strategic game plan to win rounds.

A smaller group of pundits favoured Alvarez, pointing to the Mexican's proven record at higher weights and his capacity to carry power through to super-middleweight. Barry Jones said size could be decisive, expecting Alvarez to use his greater mass and stopping power, while Galal Yafai warned that moving up two divisions might prove too large a jump for Crawford. Taylor Bevan likewise anticipated Alvarez's strength and power would be the difference over the distance.

Predictions also diverged on likely outcomes: some imagined a tight points decision, others suggested the heavier Alvarez might force a stoppage, and several tipped Crawford to win on points by outboxing Alvarez over the scheduled rounds. Commentators repeatedly stressed the strategic nature of the matchup — with Crawford's ring craft and stance changes tested against Alvarez's physicality and experience at the weight.

Promoters and broadcasters billed the fight as a dream matchup between two modern greats, framing it as both a legacy fight and a rare meeting between contrasting styles. The bout will unfold under the Las Vegas lights with a global audience watching how Crawford's jump in weight will fare against Alvarez's championship pedigree.

Both fighters completed final face-offs and promotional events in the build-up, with ticketed crowds and significant media attention focused on whether Crawford's unorthodox, multi-faceted style can overcome Alvarez's size or whether Alvarez's proven success at the weight will blunt Crawford's advantages.

The result will have major implications for both fighters' legacies. A Crawford victory would add another weight to his unbeaten record and strengthen his claim among the sport's all-time greats; an Alvarez win would reinforce his standing as the dominant super-middleweight of his era and validate his record against top-level opposition.

Fans and analysts will have to wait for the ring action to provide answers, but the consensus among the boxing figures polled by BBC Sport before the fight leaned towards Crawford by narrow margins, with a determined minority still predicting Alvarez would prevail thanks to size and power.