Is Terence Crawford Too Old and Too Small for Canelo at 168? Efe Ajagba Discusses It

Efe Ajagba says it’s going to be “difficult” for Terence Crawford to move up to 168 to fight in a foreign weight class that he’s never competed at during his 17-year pro career on September 13th. Although Ajagba feels that Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) is “strong,” it’s still going to be a problem for him jumping up two divisions.

Age, Weight Against Crawford

Crawford only recently moved up from welterweight to junior middleweight last year. His fight against Israil Madrimov at 154 last August showed that his power and speed had deteriorated from how he’d performed at 147. This will be more pronounced at super middleweight [168], unless Crawford develops newfound strength. That’s rare for a fighter nearing 40 and looking 50.

Crawford’s power is inadequate for the 168-lb division. He couldn’t knock out Madrimov due to the lack of pop, and now he’s fighting Canelo, who has fought at 175 against Sergey Kovalev and Dmitry Bivol. It’s not like Crawford can go to Walmart and purchase some power before September 13th.

“He’s strong, but when you move up to the weight [168], it’s going to be difficult for you to fight,” said Efe Ajagba to Sean Zittel about Terence Crawford moving up two weight classes from 154 to fight Canelo Alvarez at 168.

Ajagba understands what a move like this would be like for Crawford. He knows that he’ll be taking too big of a jump up, and he’s not young. Again, Crawford appears to be a 50-year-old man now. He’s lived a hard life in the ring, and it shows physically on him.

Canelo’s Weight Class Advantage

“When you move up in weight to fight Canelo, that’s not your weight class. That’s not what you used to fight before,” said Ajagba. “So, he’s not going to be comfortable, but Canelo is going to be comfortable at this weight to fight Crawford. I prefer Crawford to come down.”

Crawford’s Deteriorating Power

Powerwise, Bud Crawford was outstanding at 135, 140, and 147, but only average at 154. He wisely skipped 160, where he would have been dramatically underpowered, and now he’s moving to 168. He’s going to be on the low spectrum and be forced to rely on his jab as his main weapon against Canelo.

Crawford can’t afford to stand in the center of the ring againt Canelo because he’ll have holes punched through him. Crawford’s face looked beaten up from ‘Little GGG’ Madrimov, and he’s not on Alvarez’s level.