Terence Crawford will step into the ring with Canelo Alvarez this September in Las Vegas. The bout will take place at super-middleweight, requiring Crawford to jump up two weight divisions from his recent fight at super-welterweight.
Crawford recently won the WBA belt at 154lbs with a unanimous decision victory over Israil Madrimov. Some fans felt his performance was a bit underwhelming, but the win added to his impressive resume as a four-weight world champion.
Now, Crawford faces his biggest challenge yet against Canelo. The Mexican star currently holds the WBC, WBA, and WBO super-middleweight titles. He'll defend his IBF championship against William Scull in May, aiming to become the undisputed champion at 168lbs once again.
Bob Arum, Crawford's former promoter and CEO of Top Rank, shared his thoughts on the matchup in an interview with Fight Hub TV:
"I think Canelo wipes the floor with him. I love Crawford, I told you when Crawford was fighting Spence that Crawford would beat the hell out of him. But Canelo is a different proposition. It's an interesting fight, but I think there's only one winner. Canelo is used to fighting at a particular level and I don't think that Terence can hurt Canelo, but Canelo can hurt Terence."
Arum believes Canelo's experience at the higher weight class gives him a significant advantage. He doubts Crawford can hurt Canelo but thinks the Mexican star has the power to trouble his opponent.
The fight promises to be a clash between two of boxing's pound-for-pound stars. Crawford's skill and Canelo's power will make for an intriguing matchup, with the outcome potentially reshaping the boxing landscape.
Before facing Crawford, Canelo will defend his IBF title against William Scull in May. A win there would set the stage for an even bigger showdown with Crawford in September.
