Terence Crawford says he’s not trying to knock out Canelo Alvarez when he challenges him for his three or four super middleweight titles in September. His goal is to just “beat him.” However, he says he’s been sparring with bigger guys his entire career, and he feels he’s got the power to potentially knock out Canelo (62-2-2, 39 KOs) if he catches him with a speedy shot that he doesn’t see.
Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) failed to hurt his last opponent, former WBA junior middleweight champion Israil Madrimov, on August 3rd and was lucky to win the decision. Madrimov out-punched him the entire fight and made him look his age, a 38-year-old looking to pad his bank account before retirement.
A Flawed Vision
Terence says that if he beats Canelo in September, it’ll make him #3 all-time pound-for-pound. His statement indicates that he doesn’t know much about the history of the sport because even if he were to beat the fading, cherry-picking Mexican star Alvarez, it wouldn’t put him in the top 20 pound-for-pound of all time.
Crawford’s resume is utterly weak that he couldn’t even make the top 20 list because the only notable guy he’s beaten thus far is a washed-up Errol Spence, who has been fighting in slow motion since his terrible car crash in 2019.
You take that win out of Crawford’s resume; you’re left with Madrimov and the over-the-hill Kell Brook and Shawn Porter. Both guys were at the end of their careers when Crawford fought them.
“I don’t got to stop him. I just got to beat him. I’m not going in there trying to knock Canelo out. Can it happen? Yes, absolutely,” said Terence Crawford to Manouk Akopyan’s YouTube channel about his fight against unified super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez on September 13th.
We already know how Crawford plans on fighting Canelo because his trainer, Brian ‘BoMac’ McIntyre, already gave away the game plan. He said they’re going to copy the Floyd Mayweather Jr. blueprint by jabbing, throwing single shots, moving, and holding. It’s going to be a very boring fight, and the boxing fans who order it on PPV are going to be stomping mad for being fooled. What do they expect?
If you watch Crawford’s last fight against Israil Madrimov on August 3rd, it shows exactly how he’s going to try and beat Canelo. He’s going to turn the fight into a chess match because his power won’t be there. He didn’t show any power, going from 147 to 154 against Madrimov. He looked like your typical older fighter, playing out his string before heading into retirement.
“I’m coming from a smaller weight class that is faster. So, if he gets caught with a punch that he doesn’t see, he’s definitely capable of getting hurt. I’m trying to fight my fight. If the knockout is there, of course, I’m going to take it.
“I think Canelo has been holding back in his last couple of fights. I don’t think he’s been as excited,” said Crawford when asked if Canelo is still in his prime at this stage of his career. I think against me, it’s going to be the best Canelo that we’ve seen yet. I’ve been sparring big guys my whole career.
“A lot of people are mad that I got the opportunity. They don’t want to see me get the opportunity for their own personal reasons,” said Crawford about his getting the fight against Alvarez. “When I beat Canelo Alvarez, I’m going to be top 3, pound-for-pound fighters ever.
A Disregard for Rank
Interestingly, Crawford is still unable to grasp why fans and the media are upset that he’s getting a title shot against unified super middleweight champion Canelo. How can Crawford be so obtuse? Is it intentional?
Boxing is supposed to be a sport, and when you have a fighter moving up two weight classes to challenge a world champion without fighting their way into the contest by beating the top contenders, it makes a mockery of the sport.
Is it asking too much for Crawford to be forced to earn his mega-payday against Canelo by entertaining a three-fight mini-tournament by going up against these three killers?
- David Benavidez
- David Morrell
- Osleys Iglesias
If Crawford beat those three killers, fans would have no qualms about him challenging Canelo for his three titles. But with the way it’s set up now, Terence is going up two divisions after a year of the ring, with no experience and a ripe 38-year-old. In no way does Crawford deserve to jump the line in front of Benavidez, Morrell, and Iglesias for the title shot.
I left out super middleweight contenders Diego Pacheco, Edgar Berlanga, Caleb Plant, and Christian Mbilli, Jaime Munguia because I don’t rate them. Iglesias, Morrell and Benavidez are levels above that sorry bunch.
Last Updated on 03/23/2025
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