Shakur Stevenson says he believes Terence Crawford had the style to beat Canelo Alvarez even before Dmitri Bivol did it a few years ago. Stevenson says he has seen Crawford injure heavyweights, and he does not believe Canelo can walk forward against him with his power.
Stevenson says he began to believe that Crawford would beat Canelo in 2021 when he fought welterweight Shakur Porter. He felt that the then 34-year-old Porter was a good measure to predict Crawford’s performance three divisions above at 168.
Loyalty to logic
Crawford, 37, will challenge Canelo for his belts on September 13. Despite the two section, Shakur does not move it as a problem as a problem. He says he believes Crawford has been the best fighter at Super Middlevig for many years.
WBC lightweight champion Stevenson said he didn’t matter that Crawford (41-0, 31 COs) moved two divisions from 154 to 168 to challenge the Unified Champion Canelo (62-2-2, 38 KO).
“I’ve put it out since Crawford fought against Shawn Porter (2021 at Welterweight). I said Terence Crawford will beat Canelo Alvarez just after he (34-year-old) Shawn Porter fought, ”Shakur Stevenson said Ring magazineand revealed that he predicted four years ago that Terence Crawford would beat Canelo.
It is reasonable to assume that Shakur’s views on the Canelo-Crawford struggle are influenced by his close friendship with Bud, and his loyalty to him. It’s a natural thing. Of course, he wants to see that Crawford gets this opportunity to him without earning it as other fighters should.
The heavyweight -claim
“I felt in that weight class (168), Terence Crawford is the largest, ”Shakur said of how he felt that Crawford was the best at Super middle weight without ever fighting there. “I just feel with Canelo’s style, and that is before (Dmitri) Biblical did. I felt that Terence Crawford was the only man who could beat Canelo with his style.
“I said that, even before Bud said that. Bud is a Southpaw. He is a South Paw that makes it more difficult for Canelo, ‘Shakur continued to praise Crawford. “He has problems with them after seeing him fighting John Ryder. He wasn’t that good. It’s just that Canelo fought against a Southpaw.
“How does Canelo handle the power of Bud? If Bud hits him, is he just going to walk forward and just take the bumps? I just don’t know. I saw Bud hurt heavyweights, ”says Shakur.
If Shakur believes that Crawford has been the best fighter for years, why didn’t he act to test himself? He could have done it years ago and earn a lot more money than he has at Welterweight. The only big money fight Crawford had at 147 is Errol Spence. If he could beat all the super -middle -weight years, as Shakur claims, why didn’t he do it?
Crawford could not injure Israel Madrimov with his push in his last fight at 154, and he is nowhere close to a heavyweight. If he had the kind of power to injure heavyweights, he should have shown it against Madrimov.
Last updated on 03/14/2025
