Spike O'Sullivan: Canelo and Crawford haven't left it too late, fight should go down like fine wine

I was buzzing around the gym like a 23-year old this week. That's good. My comeback fight, my first as a 41-year-old, is next month.

We've got two massive fights this weekend on both sides of the Atlantic. Canelo Alvarez v Terence Crawford in Las Vegas and Paddy Donovan v Lewis Croker in Belfast. Pic: David Becker/Getty Images for Netflix

There’s only so much hiding room behind a heavy bag. One evening a few years back I was working away in Celtic Warriors Gym with Paschal when his older brother rumbled in. He might have been well retired but Steve Collins is still Steve Collins. “Where are you Spike…you swine?” he called out. “You ate my f***ing steak!” Getting between a man and his beef is risky business but I had my explanation ready. “Your mam insisted on cooking it for me,” I told him. And that was it. No further explanation required.

For nearly 20 years now Colette Collins has had an extra son in the family. To her flock of grandkids, she’s Nanny Collins. But she’s Mammy Collins to me, my Dublin mother. She must be the most glamorous granny in the country. I wouldn’t dare divulge her age here but just point to the fact that most of her lunatic sons are into their 60s now and she’s still fresh as a daisy. The Marilyn Monroe of Castleknock, as I call her.

I knocked into the house on Thursday for a well overdue visit. It was too early for steak but we’d a few cups of tea and a great catch-up. Chats with Colette have been a constant part of my fighting life. Whenever I was in camp in Dublin, I’d be in to her. Now I’m back again, getting the body and the mind in shape and working my stones off for my return next month.

I haven’t fought in the big smoke for 11 years but last time I did, I fist-bumped Colette on my way into the ring before KO’ing Anthony Fitzgerald. She’s promised me she’ll be ringside again on October 10th at the National Stadium. It’ll be my first fight as a 41-year-old. But spend even a minute with Mammy Collins and you’re reminded that age is the most irrelevant number. She’s like the finest of wines, you don’t even have to look at the dates.

Gary Spike O'Sullivan with Colette Collins on Thursday. Pic: Gary Spike O'Sullivan

And that’s how I’ve felt this week. We have a huge boxing weekend on both sides of the Atlantic, massive Saturday night fights in Vegas and Belfast. Maybe that helps focus the mind a little bit too but I just felt like I was 23 all over again, buzzing around the gym. Myself and Packie have been doing this so long it can feel like second nature but there was a young, electric energy about it this week. There was a South American opponent being talked about and he looked dangerous but I like the idea of that. I’ve a lot of work to do but I’m excited for it all.

I want to get in there next month, get back to winning and then take a run at Nathan Heaney in England. He’s a fighter I really respect and one who, like me, recently came out on the wrong end of an opponent who then failed a doping test. That’s the plan and focus. The best is yet to come. That’s always been my outlook. I have the exact words literally framed on my wall at home and Mammy Collins wouldn’t let me think any other way.

Is the same true for Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford? That’s one of the questions that hangs over the biggest fight of the weekend and probably the year. Their super middleweight showdown in the desert has some fascinating angles to it. But the one I’ve seen a lot is whether they’ve left it too late to finally get in there together? I don’t think so. This could be another night of fine wine. The public are thirsty for it given the huge 65,000 crowd and a purse of $200m.

Canelo doesn’t like to be as busy these days. He hopes his size and sturdiness can counter anyone bringing speed and elusiveness. The Desperate Dan chin is handy too. It’s all worked for him until now. He’s unbeaten at super middleweight and it’s up to Crawford to show he can make the step up. It’s a hell of a leap, jumping 21 pounds against a guy two years younger than you. But Crawford has reach and height advantage and here’s a perfect example of age being just a number: Canelo has boxed 520 rounds as a pro, Crawford just 245.

I didn’t think Crawford looked at his brilliant best against Israil Madrimov last time out but Canelo won’t be as busy so the possibility that Crawford outboxes him is a real one. He can stay out of danger, be faster and quicker and make it count. Crawford is the only one going in there with a perfect record so the psychology of it will be key too. But I’m still torn as to how it goes.

Above in Belfast the mind games could be even more decisive. Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan will fill Windsor Park for a historic rematch, a first all-Irish world title fight. But I wonder if Crocker’s head is filled with doubts from their first meeting in March. Paddy battered him that night and but for an after-the-bell punch, would have won in some style. I thought Crocker went a bit Premier League winger and made a meal of the late punch too.

Either way, it’s Belfast versus Limerick again and this time with the IBF welterweight strap on the line. Crocker knows he was outboxed and outclassed last time and I think that takes a heavy toll. The corners will be key too and I just don’t see any way Billy Nelson can outthink Andy Lee. A great Irish southpaw coaching another to a world title would be a hell of an achievement.

I’m running out of words here so I can’t dawdle any longer. I have to make a call on Canelo-Crawford. In a weekend of history, I’ll make a little bit too. For the first time I’m going to tell ye to back the draw. It’s around 16/1. Ye’ll buy plenty of steaks and wine if that comes in.