Terence Crawford admits he has a ‘difficult challenge’ to go up to 168 to challenge Canelo Alvarez for his undisputed Super Middleweight Championship on September 13. Bud Crawford (41-0, 31 COs) was most inactive for the past four years, did not look good in his last fight against Israel Madrimov, and he is on the wrong side of 30, close to 40.
The risk of weight class jumps
Turki Alalshikh believed in Crawford enough to fight with Canelo (63-2-2, 39 COs), but chances are that this battle does not deliver the fireworks he hoped. Crawford has chosen not to take a setup in the weight class and will go up to Alvarez after a 13 -month dismissal.
There will be a lot of disappointment if the fight is boring with Crawford around the ring, or if it is a complete mismatch like Alvarez’s fight against Jermell Charlo. Therefore, it is a bad idea to throw a lot of money into a smaller fighter to move two or three weight classes. The risk exists that it will not be an entertaining battle, especially if the smaller fighter refuses to gain experience in that weight class.
Coach Abel Sanchez and former four divisions world champion Mikey Garcia are skeptical of winning Crawford. They both noticed how bad he looked in his last fight against Israel Madrimov on August 3, and won a close unanimous decision of 12 round by the scores 116-112, 115-113 and 115-113.
The more accurate of the scores was the 115-113, although they did not tell the whole story. It could have been a draw or victory for Madrimov if he didn’t have a much more popular fighter than himself. Crawford now jumps at 14 pounds from 154 to 168, and again, without taking a setup in the weight class. Only he knows why he chose not to fight someone on 168 to get experience.
Crawford on face faces Canelo
“It’s going to be a difficult challenge on both sides. He’s going to have some challenges. I’m going to have some challenges. That’s what big fights are all about. Whoever overcomes the challenges and uses the mistakes of the other fighter, ‘Terence Crawford said Fighting type About his 13 -September challenge against Canelo Alvarez in Las Vegas.
“I’m going to be ready and I’m going to be prepared. I’m excited and look forward to it,” Crawford said.


Last updated on 06/05/2025