Boxing analyst Tim Bradley says Terence Crawford should use a similar style of combination punch to defeat Dmitri Bivol for him to defeat the undisputed super -middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez on September 13. Hall of Famer Bradley mentions that Crawford (41-0, 31 COs) Canelo (63-2-2, 39 COs) must attack with combinations.
The trouble of mimicking Bisvol
For Crawford, it would be difficult to effectively imitate Bivol’s fighting style against Canelo. He is not as big as Biblical. Crawford is a counter-puncher and has never used a combination punch to win fights.
Even Canelo’s last opponent, IBF Super Middleweeight Champion William Scull, was a better combination puncher than Crawford. Scull looked afraid to throw combinations due to the punching power of Canelo.
“It’s not going to be a fight where Crawford is going to run all night, because he’s not going to win this battle in that way. There are moments where Crawford will have to fight this man,” Tim Bradley said on his channelTalk about Terence Crawford who should mix it with Canelo Alvarez to win on September 13.
The advantage of the a-side
Crawford is aware that he cannot move all night as earlier in his career when he does not have his way to victories over Felix Diaz in 2017 and Viktor Postol in 2016. It’s too big fight, and Canelo is the A side in this game. He is the superstar. Crawford will have to exchange a bit with Alvarez for him to win rounds, because as William Scull did on May 3, and Erislandy Lara did in 2014, will not win him.
“Back him up and put him on defense. He will have to do this with combinations, similar to what Biblical could do. You will have to do this, ‘Bradley says of Crawford who has to fight like the light heavyweight champion Dmitri Biblical, who fought Canelo on May 7, 2022.
The BiVol-Crawford equation
The problem with Crawford who is fighting like Biblical is that he is not him. BISHELL, 6’0 ″, is much larger than the 5’8 ″ Crawford, and he was much younger at 31 than Bud is now. Crawford turns on September 28, 38. He has never been a combination puncher like Biblical, and it’s pretty late in his career to change his style.
“Crawford is going to win the battle at the back like all his fights. He’s going to act, bite, and he’ll have to. Canelo will push him. Crawford will have to throw and let his hands go like he has never done before,” Bradley said.
On August 3, 2024, Crawford drew the victory against WBA junior middleweight champion Israil Madrimov. Crawford went on the attack and pressed Madrimov during the round 10, 11 and 12 to make the 12-round decision by making the scores 115-113, 116-112 and 115-113.
An animal he has not seen yet
“He haven’t seen this animal (Canelo) on a Fight Night yet, but he has seen a version of this animal for a very long time,” the former welterweight champion Shawn Porter said Hitmansport mediaTalk about Crawford.
Porter does not give an example of a similar fighter as Canelo who fought Crawford during his career. From what I saw from Crawford’s fights, former WBO welterweight champion Jeff Horn is the only fighter he fought similar to Alvarez. Horn did not have the power, skills and size of Canelo.
Last updated on 08/22/2025
