Coach Stephen Edwards says he’s not sure if Terence Crawford could defeat Dmitry Bivol if he were to move up to 175 to challenge him for his IBF, WBA, and WBO light heavyweight titles next.
Edwards states that with the size of the 6’0″ Bivol (24-1, 12 KOs), his movement and strength, it would be a “reach” for Crawford (42-0, 31 KOs) to take on that kind of fighter. He notes that Bivol, 34, would be a much different kind of fight than Canelo Alvarez was for Bud due to the size, mobility, and conditioning.
Why Size Suddenly Matters
Crawford couldn’t count on Bivol fading late in the fight to pull out a victory like he did against Canelo in their September 13th fight in Las Vegas. So, if Terence needs rallying to get the victory, it wouldn’t happen against Bivol.
It’s unclear why Edwards is suddenly making a big deal about Crawford being at a size disadvantage, as he’s almost always been the bigger fighter throughout his long 17-year pro career.
At 5’9″ with a massive 75″ reach, Crawford has enjoyed an advantage over the fighters he’s fought in the 135, 140, 147, 154, and 168-lb weight classes. Even against Bivol, Terence would enjoy a three-inch reach advantage.
Bivol’s reach is 72 inches, to Crawford’s 75″. As such, why is Edwards suddenly standing on his soapbox to complain about how unfair it is now that Terence is at a small disadvantage?
When he was the bigger and or longer fighter in his 42 previous contests, where was Edwards to complain about the unfairness of those fights? Why suddenly does he chirp when Crawford is giving up a little height, weight, and power for the first time in his career? Now that things are finally balancing out, Stephen is making a big deal about it.
“I think we’ve got to be fair with him. If Bud can beat Bivol, he’s the best fighter in the history of boxing. I think it’s asking too much. I don’t know if he can fight Bivol,” said trainer Stephen Edwards to YSM Sports Media when asked about whether he believes Terence Crawford can defeat Dmitry Bivol at 175.
Why is it unfair that Crawford has to deal with a bit of size for Bivol? I mean, if Crawford is such a great pound-for-pound fighter and belongs on the Mount Rushmore of boxing at the #1 spot above Sugar Ray Robinson, Muhammad Ali, and Joe Louis, why shouldn’t he fight Bivol and have a chance of defeating him?
The only reason I can think of is that Edwards is flat out worried that Terence will get found out and exposed as fool’s gold. All those people would jump off the Crawford bandwagon like rats leaping off a sinking ship in the Atlantic.
Bivol: Bigger, Stronger, Sharper
“You’re talking about a boxer that is moving, strong, bouncing in and out, and conditioned. You’re talking about a guy who has got everything that Bud has got, but he’s a natural 175-pounder with pedigree,” said Edwards about Crawford fighting Bivol.
Well, can’t Crawford move and bounce around like Bivol? Doesn’t he have excellent conditioning? I remember Bud around the ring like a rabbit against Canelo last month in their headliner at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, turning in a textbook definition of a Tom and Jerry fight in front of 70,482 stone-quiet fans. Talk about boring. That was unwatchable.
Turki’s Investment Questioned
I just wonder what Turki Alalshikh was thinking while watching Crawford turn in that kind of performance after being given a fortune in loot? He didn’t get his money’s worth paying Crawford gazillions. Turki could have used that dough to give it to Christian Mbilli to move into the headliner slot to face Canelo to entertain the fans.
“That’s not the same as fighting Canelo. That’s a different fight. I don’t know if that’s possible. That’s a reach,” said Stephen, questioning whether it would be a step too far for Bud Crawford to face Dmitry Bivol at light heavyweight.
Last Updated on 10/02/2025
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