Terence Crawford and Canelo Alvarez are set to face off in a big-time boxing match this September. The two champions will battle for Canelo's undisputed super-middleweight belts in Saudi Arabia, backed by Turki Alalshikh.
YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul has stirred up controversy by criticizing Crawford's popularity. Paul, who boasts 28.4 million Instagram followers, didn't hold back in his assessment of the three-division world champion.
"No one really knows who Crawford is. To be honest, I think my mom has more followers than him on Instagram."
Paul's statement isn't quite accurate. Crawford has over 1.8 million Instagram followers, while Paul's mother has 429,000. Still, the comment highlights a broader criticism of fighters who focus more on their in-ring performance than social media presence.
At 37, Crawford is the current light-middleweight champion and former undisputed welterweight king. He'll face a tough test in Canelo, who's 34 and has a record of 63-2-2. Canelo also outpaces Crawford in social media popularity with 19 million Instagram followers.
Eddie Hearn, a prominent boxing promoter, expressed concerns about Crawford's chances against Canelo:
"Crawford is an incredible fighter. But he has never faced anyone like Canelo. You can't just move up in weight and expect your natural talent to be enough. Canelo is a monster at 168 pounds."
Hearn pointed out that Crawford's resume doesn't compare to Canelo's extensive list of world-class opponents across multiple weight classes. Canelo has faced heavy hitters and technically gifted boxers like Gennady Golovkin, Dmitry Bivol, Caleb Plant, and Billy Joe Saunders.
Canelo's only losses came against Floyd Mayweather and Dmitry Bivol, both considered extremely tough opponents. Some critics argue Golovkin beat Canelo twice, though the official record doesn't reflect this.
Crawford's recent performance against Errol Spence Jr. showcased his defensive skills, ring IQ, and precision power in a tactical masterclass. His fighting style prioritizes performance over promotion, which might explain the gap in social media following compared to some of his peers.
The September showdown will test Crawford's ability to move up in weight and challenge one of boxing's biggest stars. Fans will watch closely to see if Crawford's skills can overcome Canelo's experience and power at super-middleweight.
