Will Terence Crawford target Canelo Alvarez's body?

Canelo has moved up significantly in weight classes throughout his career, adding a lot of muscle mass. While it allows him to load up on his power shots, Canelo has shown that he slows down as the fight progresses. This was seen in the John Ryder fight. Canelo’s previous fights have also shown that he can be hurt to the body. The Gennadiy Golovkin first fight showed Canelo complaining about low body shots, when in fact, it was a sign of discomfort from the power GGG was showing. It remains to be seen if Crawford can hurt Canelo to the body, but with the Mexican’s iron chin, targeting the midsection could be a useful tactic. 

Canelo is also known for using his head movement, which can leave the body exposed. Crawford is a master tactician known for his versatility, ring IQ, and ability to break down opponents. He can deliver sharp, accurate shots to the liver and ribs in a cumulative fashion. 

Crawford’s ability to switch between orthodox and southpaw also allows him to create lots of angles. This makes him unpredictable, as he can throw lead body hooks from either stance. Equally, he can step around Canelo’s guard to land shots to the side.

Crawford could lure Canelo into exchanges and then pivot to create opportunities for body shots. By consistently digging to the body, he can gradually sap Canelo’s energy, slow him down, and potentially diminish his power in the later rounds.