Tim Bradley says David Banavidez would lose against the undisputed super -middleweight champion Terence Crawford if he moved back to 168.
Crawford’s complexity factor
Bradley mentions that he looked back to Benavidez’s fight against former IBF 168-Pond Champion Caleb Plant from March 2023, and believes Crawford is too complicated for him. He would use the mistakes he made in his battle with plant to defeat him.
The weight drainage problem
It would be difficult for benavidez (30-0, 24 coes) to return to 168, as he has been campaigning since 2024 on 175. If he returned to his old weight class at Super Middeeight, he would take a lot out of him.
“If Benavidez was 168 again, he didn’t hit Bud Crawford. No, he doesn’t hit Crawford, ‘Tim Bradley says on his channel. ‘Shakur was right. He always said that. ‘ Benavidez can’t beat him. ”
If Benavidez fought so poorly in 2023 as in the first five rounds against Caleb plant, Crawford would have a good chance of beating him. The problem is that Crawford is not so big, young or dangerous enough to get away with the plant against benavidez.
Crawford does not like to be hit and will take less risks to land his shots compared to what plant does in its loss of benavidez. All the run around Crawford did in his close victory over Canelo Alvarez on September 13, would not do the work against ‘The Mexican Monster’.
Why Bud would make him pay
‘The size, however. It’s a guy who knows how to use his size, and he puts the pressure on you. He makes many mistakes. Someone with the complexity of Crawford is going to see all the mistakes and pay him for it. And it’s all about making him pay regularly. I will never know against Crawford because I know what the man is, ‘says Benavidez.
Crawford does not take chances at the low output Canelo, and he will have to throw more bumps if he fights benavidez if he wants to win. The hit and run would not do the job for Bud. It would be admirable if Terence was aggressively fighting as against Israil Madrimov and Errol Spence.
We did not see the version of Crawford in the Canelo match, and we will see even less against Benavidez because of its size and volume.
Dan Ambrose has followed boxing since 2011 and shares his passion for the biggest stars and fights of the sport.
Last updated on 10/15/2025
