Fans bring the noise to lift super-fight to another level

After the week's low-key build-up in Las Vegas, the pre-fight press conference for Canelo vs Crawford finally added some real buzz to the bout writes Alex Pattle at T-Mobile Arena

- Alex Pattle

Thursday was the day fight week changed.

Thursday was the day Canelo vs Crawford went from being a fanciful match-up to a material fight. As the protagonists partook in a customary press conference, Terence Crawford and Canelo Alvarez finally felt what this fight needed: the energy of the fans. The aircon of the T-Mobile offered a merciful respite from the searing Las Vegas sun, and just inside the venue's side entrance, the voice of Max Kellerman was audible above the distant murmurs from the arena floor. Kellerman, a fan-favourite boxing pundit, has been brought back into the fold for this evening's super-fight after a long absence from the sport.

With the broadcaster facing the other way, all that was visible of him was the back of a sharp suit and an even sharper haircut. You don't need to see the face, though: his voice is unmistakable. That, in part, is why he is back.

"I just waited for a real reason to return," he soon said. Not to this journalist, but in a video package on the big screens inside the arena.

That video package was sandwiched between one highlighting Canelo, coolly soundtracked by The Rolling Stones' “Gimme Shelter”, and one hyping Crawford, to the sound of Eminem's “Won't Back Down”. Each was received enthusiastically by the crowd, and at that point, the fight-week buzz was finally vibrating as it should.