Terence Crawford and Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez are set to face off in a major boxing showdown this September in Las Vegas. The fight will pit the undefeated four-division champion Crawford against the unified super middleweight champion Canelo.
Crawford, 37, from Omaha, Nebraska, boasts a perfect 41-0 record. He'll move up two weight classes and 14 pounds to challenge Canelo at 168 pounds. If successful, Crawford will become a five-weight world champion.
Canelo, 34, from Mexico, currently holds the WBC, WBA, and WBO super middleweight titles. This fight comes as part of his new four-fight deal with Riyadh Season, which kicks off with a bout against William Scull in May.
ESPN reports that the official announcement is expected soon. The matchup fulfills Crawford's wish for a showdown with Canelo, which he called for after defeating Israil Madrimov for the WBA super-welterweight title last August.
Boxing legend Roy Jones Jr. shared his thoughts on the fight with RealLyfe Productions:
"I don't see nobody around that's gonna beat 'Bud' unless it's somebody way bigger than him."
However, in a separate interview with Mill City Boxing, Jones hedged his bets:
"I like Terence, but I'm going to lean towards Canelo with his size early but if he lets Terence get into the fight Terence going to be a problem and if Terence can deal with the size, Terence will beat him."
The fight shapes up as the biggest challenge of Crawford's career. While he remains undefeated, the significant jump in weight class will test his skills like never before. Canelo's size and experience at the higher weight give him a clear advantage.
The outcome will likely hinge on Crawford's ability to handle the size difference and Canelo's power. If 'Bud' can adapt quickly and use his speed and skill, he might pull off the upset. But if Canelo can impose his size advantage early, it could be a long night for the smaller man.
Boxing fans can't wait to see how this clash of champions plays out when these two step into the ring in Las Vegas this September.
