When it comes to prizefighting, it doesn't get any bigger than the "Fight of the Century." That's what the highly anticipated showdown between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford is being billed as, and who could blame anyone for calling it that?

Consider: In the current Ring Magazine pound-for-pound rankings, undefeated Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) is No. 3 and Alvarez (63-2-2, 39 KOs) is No. 8. Each man has held a title in four divisions, including two-time undisputed champion status – Alvarez twice at super middleweight (168 pounds), and Crawford at both super lightweight (140) and welterweight (147).

Saturday's fight, which takes place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas and streams on Netflix, is scheduled for 12 rounds and will be for Alvarez's undisputed super middleweight championship, meaning the onus will be on Crawford to adapt as he's never competed at 168.

It's a bold move for Crawford to move up two weight classes in hopes of knocking off one of boxing's all-time greatest fighters, but will it pay off? Below is a collection of expert and fighter predictions for Canelo vs. Crawford.

Teddy Atlas, boxing analyst

“Before this fight was made and when it was only vaguely proposed, well, a lot of people poo-poo’d it. ‘No, Crawford is too small. Forget about it, it doesn’t make sense.’ When it was going through those times, I didn’t hesitate. I said Crawford. I’m not changing now.”

“I don’t know if (being patient) will serve (Alvarez) with Crawford, who’s moving up in weight, who’s faster, who can maneuver, use his legs. I know he’s 37, but he’s not used up. He doesn’t have a lot of miles on the odometer.”

“I like him not only because of the physical attributes I talked about, but because of the intangibles, the mental traits. He’s got great timing. He’s ice water in there. He doesn’t get affected emotionally. He’s got great eyes. He’s laser-like with his eyes and his timing. Mentally, he doesn’t believe he can get beaten.”

(via "THE FIGHT")

Jim Lampley, boxing analyst

"You're not gonna beat Canelo until somehow over a long period of time Canelo beats himself. … My guess is he will retire without incurring another loss because it's important for him to do that. I do like him against 'Bud' Crawford, but I do think it's a great fight. … 'Bud' Crawford, to me, is a latter-day Sugar Ray Robinson. He has multiple skills of Sugar Ray Robinson. He can defend or attack. He has a deep inner mean streak that he can employ at any moment in a fight to get what he wants."

(via "Boxing with Mannix and Mora")

Mike Tyson, former boxing champion

“I want Crawford to win, but it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen. I would like for it to happen, [but] this guy [Alvarez] is a hard puncher, he’s a smart fighter. I want to see it.”

(via "The Big Podcast")

Tyson Fury, former boxing champion

"(It's a) very tough fight, different weight categories. What weight would this fight happen? I don’t know. At 168, I’m gonna say Canelo. At 140, I’m gonna say Crawford. So I’ll go with Canelo."

"I think it’s a fantastic fight for boxing. It’s two of the biggest names in boxing coming together. Two men, pride on the line and everything to fight for. They’re two proud champions, and I wish them all the best. They’re going to go in there, do their best, entertain the public and provide for their families, and that’s what it’s all about.”

(via The Sun)

Keith Thurman, former boxing champion

"Victory comes in preparation. The only way 'Bud' Crawford even gets close to winning is through the preparation. If he truly wants to win, what you will see within the first opening half is him working behind the jab. If he does not work behind the jab, he is not geared for the tactical approach, and the only other approach is the Hail Mary. … The funny thing is, with the extra body weight, is he agile? Is the footwork gonna be able to move, move, move, still use the ring, and as those later rounds, as the pressure continues … the other thing, too, is Canelo lost a little bit of his bite. He hasn't been tremendously devastating and taking people out. That reestablishes the fight and is in 'Bud' Crawford's favor there. It's what boxing's all about, man. The one who really wants it is the one who's gonna win. I know 'Bud' wants it, he's from my generation, he's a true American, I'm in his corner, I wish him the best of luck, but I don't doubt Canelo. I don't doubt what Canelo's capable of."

(via "Boxing with Mannix and Mora")

Michael Bisping, former UFC champion

"Technically, I think Crawford is the better boxer, but size really does matter when it comes down to it," Bisping said. "When it's all said and done, can you hurt Canelo Alvarez? To do that, you've got to stand your ground, you've got to plant your feet into the canvas, you've got to load up on the shots. You can't do that if you're backing up and dancing around the all the time."

"If 'Bud' wins, it will be historic, it will be monumental, it will be something that never is forgotten about, but I don't think it’s going to happen. Canelo Alvarez is the bigger guy. He's the face of boxing. He's fighting in Las Vegas. He's the bigger, stronger guy. He's got a good chin, he's got the harder shots, he's got the muscle to absorb it, and I think over 12 rounds with 'Bud's' game plan, which is probably going to be stick and move, plant the feet on occasion, and look for big openings, but for the most part, he's going to fight on the backfoot. … I think Canelo wins this fight, and I think he wins it via decision or a late stoppage."

(via YouTube channel)

Caleb Plant, former boxing champion

"I think it's going to be a good fight. I don't think it's going to be a snoozer. If we were to take a guess at who would allow it to be a snoozer, we would have to guess Terence, because he's in the lower weight class, and if he gets hit, is he just going to get on his bike – and that's just not in Terence's DNA. If he feels his power and thinks, 'Man, I'm gonna have to land something big, or he's gonna land something big, one of us gotta go.' Terence is the type of guy who will go out on his shield, respectfully."

"The thing about Terence is he can fight left-handed, right-handed, and just as importantly, he can fight at long range, he can fight at mid-range, and he can fight at close range. What do I know, right? I think it would be wise if Terence – that he's going to be boxing on the outside, or he needs to be all the way inside. He doesn't need to be mid-range. ... There's a saying: There are weight classes for a reason."

(via "Nightcap")

Andre Ward, former boxing champion

"(Crawford) has to do a lot of things right. He got to answer the strength question. When we bump for the first time, and we bump shoulders and clinch each other, am I going to be able to get my respect there? Because if not, it's going to be a hard night. When Terence starts getting off offensively, is Canelo laughing, or can does he feel something? At least enough where you got respectable power where I can't get crazy and get reckless with you.

"When Canelo hits Terence for the first time, what's the response gonna be? We got a lot more questions than we got answers leading into this fight, and that's how you know it's a great fight. If I looked at the landscape and I said, man, from 154 to 168, who's a name that could give Terence Crawford a run for his money and potentially beat him, it would be a Canelo Alvarez. He's at the top of the list. And if I said, what's the smaller dude who could come up two, really three weight classes since he fought Errol Spence, and challenge Canelo Alvarez? It would be Terence Crawford. If any smaller fighter could do it, it's him – and it ain't just Terence's physical ability or who he fought, it's (mentality) and (heart), it's the stuff you can't see. ... On one hand, you gotta lean toward Crawford from the standpoint of he gonna find a way to figure it out. But then you got all the physical advantages, and the skillset and the power of Canelo Alvarez."

(via "Nightcap")

Roy Jones Jr., former boxing champion

"If (Terence) can shock him enough to make (Canelo) pay attention to that lick, that will keep anybody off. That's how Floyd did it. Floyd shocked him early, and got the respect, kept him out there on the outside. If 'Bud' can do that, then Canelo would be in for a long night. If 'Bud' can't do that, then 'Bud' is in for a long night. The only person that could beat both of them right now in this situation, would be each other. Whoever can come out and get the respect early is going to win the fight. Whoever come out and take that first and second round, is gonna win the fight. If 'Bud' don't hurry up and put Canelo in that box, Canelo gonna be a problem come Rounds 8, 9, 10, 11."

(via "Nightcap")

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford predictions: Experts, fighters make their picks

Reporting by MMA Junkie / MMA Junkie

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect