Crawford Claims Canelo Win Would Surpass Sugar Ray Robinson

Terence Crawford says he’ll have achieved more than Sugar Ray Robinson if he moves up three weight classes to defeat undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez on September 13th. Crawford states that a victory over Canelo, 35, should put him as the #1 ‘greatest fighter ever.’

(Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom)

Crawford Claims All-Time Greatness

Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) isn’t seen as great because he’s never beaten one elite fighter during his 17-year pro career, and looked horrible in his last fight, getting gifted a decision against Israil Madrimov.

“Of course, why wouldn’t I?” said Terence Crawford to the Ring Champs YouTube channel when asked if he would put himself as the ‘Greatest fighter ever’ if he defeats Canelo Alvarez on September 13th. “When you talk about all these other fighters, who would have done or accomplished anything close to it.

If Crawford beats Canelo, he still wouldn’t be anywhere near the ‘greatest fighter ever’ because his weak resume doesn’t register. He’s fighting an over-the-hill Canelo, who is NOT the best fighter at 168. We don’t know who the best fighter is in the super middleweight division because Alvarez has chosen to avoid the top guys.

David Benavidez and David Morrell finally gave up waiting for a fight against him and moved up to 175. The top guys that remain would have an excellent shot at defeating the Mexican star. Benavidez and Morrell would both gladly return to 168 if Canelo agreed to fight them. They’d both beat him, and they would do the same to Crawford.

Fighters Canelo defeated to collect 168-lb belts

– Callum Smith: WBA and WBC
– Billy Joe Saunders: WBO
– Caleb Plant: IBF
– William Scull: Recaptured the IBF title

“When you say Sugar Ray Robinson. He never went up three weight classes and fought the undisputed champion,” said Crawford, making himself out to be better than Sugar Ray. “A first ballot Hall of Famer, and one of the best Mexican fighters to come out of Mexico,” said Crawford about the 35-year-old Canelo.

What Crawford isn’t saying is that he’d lose to fighters at 160 and 168 if he were required to defeat the best talents in those weight classes before challenging Canelo for his undisputed super middleweight championship. Terence is being given an undeserved title shot that he hasn’t earned against Alvarez. If he had to beat fighters at 160, like Janibek Alimkhanuly, or at 168, like Caleb Plant, he’d lose.

Prime Sugar Ray vs. Shopworn Canelo

If Sugar Ray Robinson were given the preferential treatment that Crawford is being given, he’d have moved up three divisions to capture world titles, especially if the champion was washed up. Put a prime Sugar Ray in with a bigger 35-year-old over-the-hill fighter, he’d have won. Crawford is in the perfect situation, fighting a shopworn Canelo, who looked hellish bad in his last three fights against William Scull, Edgar Berlanga, and Jaime Munguia.

“It’s a difference when you talk about moving up in weight and who you’re fighting. You can kind of say I went up three weight classes,” said Terence, talking about what he will have accomplished if he moves up from 154 to 168. Crawford is portraying himself as a 147-lb fighter, not a 154-lb guy, despite having moved up in weight to junior middleweight last August and capturing the WBA  title.

Canelo’s Recent Performance Decline

Moving up to fight 35-year-old Canelo, who is seen by fans as washed, isn’t the same as Crawford moving up to 168 to take on a real killer that is in their prime. The division is empty of talent now that David Benavidez and David Morrell have moved out. But Crawford would still be over his head, fighting Christian Mbilli, Osleys Iglesias, and Caleb Plant. That’s just a short list. He’d have problems fighting other super middleweights as well. The youth, size, and power of fighters like Edgar Berlanga, Jaime Munguia, and Hamzah Sheeraz would be pure trouble for Crawford.

“That’s the joy in it. Everybody is wondering how I’m going to do at 168. They don’t know. How can they say what’s going to happen to a person that’s not them,” said Crawford when told that some fans believe he can’t hurt Canelo, but the Mexican star can hurt him.

Fans have an excellent idea of how Crawford will do at 168. They’re able to extrapolate from how he performed moving up to 154, winning a razor-close fight against Israil Madrimov. Crawford looked old, weak, and frail in that fight. Now, he’ll be a year older, moving up two divisions to fight Canelo. We already know how Crawford will perform.

Is Crawford Fighting Just for Payday?

“I don’t know what they’re talking about,” said Crawford when told that fans believe he’s just fighting Canelo for the payday and will retire afterward. “I see I’ve got a fight coming up against Canelo, and that’s the only thing on my mind. I’m not thinking about anything but that.”

The reason fans believe Crawford is fighting Canelo just for the money:

1. Crawford, not wanting to prove himself at 168
2. Sitting inactive for a year, waiting for the Canelo fight
3. Not planning to stay at 168. The fight is a one-off for Crawford.

“Nah, not right now. Why would I be thinking about hanging them up when I’m fighting? I’m blessed,” said Terence, reacting to being told by the interviewer that he’s “great” for his age.

Crawford is obviously counting on getting a lucrative rematch with Canelo if he’s victorious or if the contest is close. Even if he doesn’t get a rematch, he could make big money in fights at 168 or 154 against the killers in those weight classes.

Crawford’s #1 hope would be a rematch with Canelo. If not, these would be Bud’s options to make as much money as possible before he retires:

– David Benavidez
– Dmitry Bivol
– Artur Beterbiev
– Sebastian Fundora
– Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis
– Vergil Ortiz
– Conor Benn
– Chris Eubank Jr.
– Tim Tszyu

Crawford would lose to most of those fighters, especially if he chooses to stay inactive for an entire year before fighting again.