You do not “play” boxing. There are no balls to kick, catch, throw, pass, hold, or hit. No bats, paddles, poles, clubs, or sticks. Once you lace up those gloves and pop in that mouth guard, it’s just you, your opponent, and the ring. In this competition, you don’t want to rely on the score, because if you do, then your fate will be up to the judges. And you absolutely do not want the decision of whether you win or lose to be determined by anybody outside the ropes. But the only way to guarantee victory here, to take the outcome out of somebody else’s hands, is to settle it with your own.

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For me, there are no greater spectacles in sports than World Cup soccer and boxing. The Olympic variété is undoubtedly deserving of an honorable mention. But if there can only be one at the top of the podium, the honor must go to boxing. As the legendary blow-by-blow commentator of the pugilistic sweet science, Jim Lampley put it, it is the purest and most human of all competitive sports.

This Saturday, we'll be treated to a match-up between two of boxing's most outstanding modern practitioners and future hall-of-famers: Saul "Canelo" Alvarez and Terence "Bud" Crawford. After dominating the welterweight division for five years, and just one fight at super welterweight, Crawford will make the jump from 154lbs to 168lbs when he faces Canelo. But to boil this down to a little man vs a big man fight would be to sell both Crawford and the challenge before Canelo short.

Canelo already knocked out the ass kissing Max Kellerman, who has lost all his credibility and integrity by pandering to his Saudi masters and the unbearable Dana White. So, I'm already pleased. But tomorrow, fight fans are in for something special. I have the utmost respect for both fighters and wish both of them luck in the ring. Also, VAMOS, CANELO!