Terence Crawford's move to super middleweight has set the stage for a huge showdown with Canelo Álvarez. The WBO raised the stakes by naming Crawford as the number one contender in the division, adding more weight to their September 14 clash at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Crawford gave up his interim junior middleweight title to take this shot at Canelo. The WBO confirmed the fight will have direct implications for the world championship. Gustavo Oliveri, the WBO President, said:
"Crawford will not return to 154 pounds and is now the official challenger at 168."
Canelo Álvarez, the undisputed super middleweight champion, holds all four major titles in the division. The Mexican icon recently defended his belts against William Scull on May 3. Now, he'll face Crawford, who boasts a perfect 41-0 record with 31 knockouts.
Crawford's decision to move up two weight classes for this fight shows how big of an opportunity it is. He's giving up his interim belt for a chance to make history against one of boxing's biggest stars.
There's a lot of respect between these two fighters. Canelo told Ring Magazine he sees Crawford as one of the top three pound-for-pound fighters alongside Oleksandr Usyk and Naoya Inoue. During their Las Vegas press tour, Canelo praised his opponent:
"Crawford is one of the best of the last decade... I don't need to trash talk. He has it all: experience, power, technique."
Canelo's not taking this fight lightly. He said:
"I always train as if I were going to fight Mike Tyson in his prime"
This match-up has got everyone talking. It's a rare chance to see two fighters who've dominated different weight classes go head-to-head. Canelo's out to defend his legacy, while Crawford wants to cement his place in boxing history.
Thousands of fans, analysts, and media from around the world will be watching closely when these two step into the ring on September 14. It's shaping up to be one of the biggest fights in recent memory.
