Kell Brook believes that undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez’s size and power advantage will be too much for Terence Crawford to overcome in their fight on September 13th.
The former welterweight champion Brook points out that it would be a different story if Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) were fighting a “mediocre champion” at middleweight, he would have a good chance of winning. But for him to go up against a “good champion” at 168, it’s going to be too much.
Terence Skipping Middleweight Risks
Crawford skipped the 160-lb division. If he had moved up to middleweight and challenged IBF and WBO champion Janibek Alimkhanuly, the chances are he’d have lost to him. Janibek is an even bigger puncher than Israil Madrimov, and that guy fought Crawford to a standstill last August.
Crawford’s Weight Jump Challenge
“Crawford is going to have to move up [two divisions and 14 pounds]. I know when I boxed Golovkin. There’s a big difference, especially when it’s someone [good],” said Kell Brook to Pro Boxing Fans, discussing what Terence Crawford is up against in his clash against Canelo Alvarez.
Brook did well against Golovkin initially, boxing him to a standstill through four rounds. However, an eye injury halted Kell’s progress in the fifth, forcing a stoppage when he could no longer deal with the pressure from GGG. However, Golovkin was a young 34, with better stamina than the 35-year-old Canelo.
The Mexican star can’t fight at the same pace that Golovkin did against Brook. He doesn’t have the engine that Golovkin had at around the same age. So, the chances of Canelo wearing Crawford down like GGG did with Brook are slim, but that doesn’t mean he won’t win. He still has the power and experience advantage over Crawford.
If the Nebraska native had moved up to 168 during the year he’s been out of the ring, he’d have a better chance of winning. He didn’t want to take the risk of losing and missing out on his giant $50 million payday.
“Fighting a middleweight, a mediocre world champion, is okay. When you’re fighting someone like Canelo, it’s a different kettle of fish. I have to lean toward Canelo, but Crawford is very good.”
Well, Crawford hasn’t even fought a middleweight. He moved up to 154 in his last fight against Israil Madrimov, and he didn’t even dominate him. Nicknamed ‘Little GGG,’ Madrimov did a number on Crawford’s face and came close to defeating him. Crawford is now moving up two additional divisions to fight an even bigger puncher in Canelo on September 13th.
Brook lost to Crawford in 2020 by a fourth-round knockout. That wasn’t a prime version of Kell that Terence beat. That was the worn-down, post-Gennadiy Golovkin eye injury version. It would have been a lot tougher for Crawford to beat Brook when he was at his best before GGG got to him and ruined what had been a promising career.
Brook Compares Crawford to Mayweather
“When I look back at when [Floyd] Mayweather beat Canelo [in 2013], he was a mover. Crawford isn’t really like Mayweather in that respect. He kind of sets his feet. He’s cut with how he approaches, chucking shots and moving. I think he’s a different fighter from Mayweather. Canelo is obviously a different fighter when he boxed Mayweather,” said Brook.
Crawford used to be a mover years ago. When you look back at his fight against Viktor Postol in 2016, his mobility was on par with a prime Mayweather. However, that was nine years ago. That version of Crawford no longer exists in 2025.
The years have been hard on Terence’s body, robbing him of his foot speed and much of the hand speed he had back then. Now all that’s left is his IQ and his ambition to make money, and take on what some boxing fans believe is the best fighter in the 168-lb division.
Last Updated on 06/17/2025
Read the full article here