David Benavidez thinks Terence Crawford might have a shot at beating Canelo Alvarez in their upcoming fight. The two champions are set to face off in September for Canelo's undisputed super-middleweight titles.
Canelo made the fight official right after he beat William Scull in Riyadh on May 2, 2023. That win made him the only fighter to become undisputed at 168 pounds twice.
Benavidez, who's been trying to get a fight with Canelo himself, shared his thoughts on the matchup. He talked to Pound 4 Pound with Kamaru & Henry about Crawford's chances against Canelo.
"I think if anybody has an opportunity, I mean has a chance to beat Canelo, I think it's Terence Crawford, his IQ is on another level, he's a great fighter and he's strong. It's just that it's a lot of weight you know what I mean?"
Benavidez pointed out Crawford's smarts, skills, and strength as big advantages. But he's worried about the weight difference. Crawford felt the power at 154 pounds, and now he's jumping up to 168.
"I wouldn't be surprised if Terence Crawford wins but I wouldn't be surprised if he loses either."
Crawford, who's 37 and from Omaha, last fought in August 2022. He beat Israil Madrimov to win the WBA light-middleweight title. Now, he's moving up two weight classes to challenge Canelo.
If Crawford pulls it off, he'll make history. He'll become the first three-division undisputed champion and grab a world title in his fifth weight class. But Canelo's no pushover – he's the current pound-for-pound king and undisputed champ at super-middleweight.
The fight's got everyone guessing. Will Crawford's skills be enough to overcome the size difference? Or will Canelo's power and experience at the higher weight win out? We'll find out in September when these two stars clash.
