Canelo Vs. Crawford: Will Age And Weight Doom “Bud’s” Super Middleweight Dream?

Tim Bradley is giving the highly ranked pound-for-pound fighter Terence Crawford a “huge chance” of moving up two divisions to dethrone unified 168-lb champion Canelo Alvarez on September 13th. He feels the former four-division world champion Crawford can outbox Canelo.

(Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom)

Crawford: “Best in the World”?

Bradley feels that Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) is the “best fighter in the world,” and he can show how predictable Alvarez (62-2-2, 39 KOs) is when they meet. Obviously, Tim is pouring it on thick with his compliments of Crawford. He’s a decent older fighter but not on the level skills-wise to younger fighters like Lamont Roach or Andy Cruz. Those two are above Crawford in technical ability and youth.

He doesn’t have the resume to gauge whether he’s the “best” in the world. We know he did a good job of Errol Spence after his car crash, but there’s no one else on Terence’s resume that would tell us that.

Crawford was fought to a standstill by Israil Madrimov in his last fight on August 3rd and showed no punching power. That was the interesting part. So unless Terence develops super middleweight power by September, he could be heading toward defeat. If he were younger and had Mayweather-like hand speed, it would help. However, Canelo would still have a massive advantage in power.

“I give him a huge chance. Terence is the best boxer in the world. He’s the best fighter in the world pound-for-pound,” said Tim Bradley to Boxing Social when asked what chance he’s giving Terence Crawford to beat unified super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez.

“I know I got Usyk there [at #1 pound-for-pound. Everybody has got Usyk there because of Usyk’s accomplishment going up to the heavyweight division. I mean, Crawford is the most skilled fighter in the world. I would definitely say he’s got a chance. He can outbox Canelo.

“Canelo is very predictable. Very powerful but very predictable, and I think Crawford is going to show you that,” said Bradley.

Age and Rust

There’s a big question mark about Crawford’s ability to move up two weight classes after a year out of the ring, a lackluster performance in his debut at 154, and take on Canelo without any experience at 168. Add to that Crawford turning 38 in September. He’ll be old, small, weak, ring rusty, and fighting for the first time at super middleweight.

The fight still hasn’t been announced. It’s important that Canelo defeat IBF super middleweight champion William Scull in their undisputed fight on May 3rd. If Alvarez loses, it will surely alter the plans for the Crawford fight.