Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez and Terence 'Bud' Crawford will face off in a boxing match on September 13. The fight will take place at 168 pounds, pushing Crawford up yet another weight class in his rapid ascent through divisions.
Crawford, who hails from Omaha, Nebraska, recently moved up to 154 pounds to defeat Israil Madrimov. He won the WBA and WBO interim super middleweight titles in that bout. Now, he's set to jump up to 168 pounds to challenge Canelo, the Mexican star from Jalisco.
Many fans and experts worry about the weight difference between the two fighters. Crawford's quick climb through weight classes raises questions about how he'll handle the natural size advantage Canelo holds. The abrupt rise in division and the adaptation process could pose significant challenges for Crawford.
However, legendary boxer Sugar Ray Leonard believes in Crawford's ability to overcome these obstacles. In a recent interview, Leonard said:
"He can do it; I mean, he can do it, no doubt. Weight is a challenge, but there's always a way. There's always a way to win."
Leonard drew from his own experience, recalling his 1988 fight against Donny Lalonde. After a year of inactivity, Leonard moved up a division and emerged victorious. He remembered:
"Every time he hit me, seriously, he hurt me to some extent; he didn't knock me out, but he hurt me, so to speak."
Leonard advises Crawford to prepare for punishment but to rely on his strengths to outmaneuver Canelo.
The RING magazine currently ranks Crawford above Canelo in their 'pound for pound' list, adding another layer of intrigue to this matchup. As the fight date approaches, supporters and critics will continue to debate the merits of this cross-divisional clash.
