Inoue beating Tank vs Crawford beating Canelo

Crawford beating Canelo would be miles more impressive.

Canelo is a unified undisputed champion, Wahid is just a belt holder.

 

I say Crawford would be more impressive. Canelo is easily the best SMW, but its not clear Tank is the best Lightweight. People say Canelo is a fading force, which is true enough I suppose, but he is significantly younger than Crawford (though admittendly he has more miles on the clock). 37 is old for 154lber, let alone moving up two divisions to take on a much bigger unified champion

 

I've been wrestling with this question since these fights first got proposed and there's so many things that make me swing back and forth. I don't believe either is an insurmountable task, but Crawford and Inoue would rightly be the underdogs. They'd both be making pretty significant leaps against guys with proven power who were more acclimated to their respective weights.

But for now I've settled on Crawford-Canelo. Crawford would be coming in with a height and reach advantage, but he'd also be coming in the older man and against a much more proven opponent, even if said opponent is seen as being on the slide.

 

Inoue beating Tank is more impressive.

A small 122 beating a career 135 (3 weight class difference) is a way larger size difference to overcome than a 154 beating a very small 168 (2 weight class difference, even less when you consider Canelo is essentially a jumped up 160 fighter).

Canelo has been shot and looked uninspired against poor opposition for 3 years now. His last KO win was almost 4 years ago (Caleb Plant in 2021).

Tank has also looked far from impressive at times, but KO7 Ryan and KO8 Frank Martin are far better wins than anything Canelo had in the same timespan of 2022-2025.

 

Fair points, but Canelo did win a title at LH and his since challenged the no. 1 guy there. And he is an established SMW, a unified champion there, and unquestionably the no. 1 in the division. I am not convinced Tank is even the best at LWW.

But as you say, Canelo is definitely on the slide (as was Kovalev when he beat him). Still, it seems ludicrous to think that a former LW champion could beat someone who stopped Kovalev.

It seems as ludicrous as Shaun Porter beating Usyk... oh wait, he did

 

You should have the option of saying they would be equally impressive. Both would be defeating an opponent who is drastically tougher than anyone they have on their respective resumes.

Is there any solid ground suggesting that Inoue is supposed to be sharing the ring with Tank or is this just a "what if" scenario?

 

After seeing all these guys last couple of fights I could seriously see Inoue being able to out box Tank and win on points as long as the judging is fair. Obviously Tank could put his lights out but if Inoue stays cautious I could see him avoiding Tanks power.
I don't really give Crawford much of a shot against Canelo he looked ok against Madrimov but Canelo is not only a level above he is bigger and more powerful and almost impossible to hurt especially by a smaller guy.
I favor Tank 70/30 over Inoue and I favor Canelo 80/20 over Crawford.

 

What is their walk-around weight?

 

My boy @shadow111 had it a draw

 

Inoue beating Tank, Bud has a longer reach than Canelo.

 

whys Martin get ranked over Ryder and Munguia, they both have better resumes than him

 

I think it would definitely be seen as an upset if Wahid beat Inoue