Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez thinks Terence Crawford didn't win his recent fight against Israil Madrimov. The judges gave Crawford the victory, but Canelo sees it differently.
Crawford moved up to super-welterweight to face Madrimov, an opponent known for his tricky style. The fight turned out to be a back-and-forth battle. Crawford showed flashes of his usual brilliance, but Madrimov had his moments too.
When the final bell rang, the judges scored it 116-112 and 115-113 twice, all for Crawford. This win made him a world champion in four different weight classes. But not everyone agreed with the decision.
Eddie Hearn, Madrimov's promoter, wasn't happy with the judges' cards. He felt his fighter deserved better.
Canelo Alvarez shared his thoughts on the fight in a recent interview.
"I think he knows why there's weight classes there, right? He make a good fight, but for me I think he lost the fight. Or draw. It could have been the other side."
Canelo's comment suggests Crawford might have struggled because he moved up in weight. It's a reminder that changing weight classes can be tough, even for top fighters.
This fight brings Crawford closer to a potential showdown with Canelo. Turki Alalshikh from Riyadh Season has already sent an offer for this matchup. Canelo says he'll take the fight if the money's right, but he hasn't seen the offer yet.
For now, Canelo's focused on his next fight. He'll defend his unified super-middleweight belts against Edgar Berlanga on September 14.
As for Crawford, he'll have to decide if he wants to stay at super-welterweight or move back down. His close fight with Madrimov shows that the higher weight class might be a real challenge.
