A Vulture’s Feast on Canelo Won’t Make Crawford Immortal

Terence Crawford says future generations of fans 100 years from now are going to be still talking about him, remembering him for having moved up three divisions to defeat Canelo Alvarez.

Fans Already Forgetting the Win

Crawford (42-0, 31 KOs) believes his 12-round unanimous decision win over undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo (63-3-2, 39 KOs) on September 13, 2025, has cemented his legacy for all time.

The reality is, it hasn’t. Fans are already forgetting about the win, putting it in perspective due to how washed the 35-year-old Canelo is after 20 years in the professional ranks, and countless wars against the elite-level apex predators that Bud Crawford never fought.

Beating Faded Names Isn’t Enough

Crawford’s accomplishment was superficial, a less risky fight against a cherry-picked opponent. Terence was wolf-like, spotting a vulnerable Alvarez, then campaigning for the fight.

There’s something very vulture-like with the way Crawford spotted a washed-up Canelo on the valley floor and swooped in to pick him off. He then made a big production about the victory, trying to convince fans that he had accomplished something extraordinary.

The Real Monsters Crawford Ignored

This is an example of strategic opportunism on Crawford’s part. Notice, he didn’t seek out these elite fighters:

• David Benavidez
• Christian Mbilli
• Osleys Iglesias
• Lester Martinez
• Dmitry Bivol

Instead, Terence targeted the weakened, vulnerable Canelo. It was like a bird of prey, targeting a weakened animal.

“My name is going to be rung and talked about after I’m dead. That’s what legacy is about,” said Terence Crawford to 4th&1 with Cam Newton, talking about what he believes future generations will be talking about.

History Demands More Than Canelo

I hate to break this to Crawford, but I don’t believe he’s going to be remembered 100 years from now. To be remembered, he would have to fight the elite fighters that are in their prime, not depleted, worn-out fighters like Canelo, a broken shell, barely keeping himself patched together.

“100 years later, they’re going to talk about, ‘Remember that kid from Omaha, Nebraska, Bud Crawford? He went up two divisions and beat Canelo Alvarez.’ They don’t want to take the risk,” said Crawford.

The Gauntlet Still Awaits Him

It’s not too late for Crawford to achieve something really lasting by running the gauntlet in consecutive fights against these fighters: Benavidez, Bivol, Mbilli, Iglesias, Martinez, and Artur Beterbiev.

Terence Crawford’s best career wins:

• Canelo Álvarez
• Errol Spence Jr.
• Shawn Porter
• Kell Brook
• Jeff Horn
• Yuriorkis Gamboa