Crawford has proven himself at the highest level, beating top fighters like Shawn Porter and Errol Spence Jr. Now he's set his sights on an even bigger challenge - facing Canelo Alvarez at super middleweight.
The weight difference will be significant. Crawford will need to pack on 14 pounds from his last fight. Even then, he'll likely give up 20 pounds or more to Canelo after rehydration. The odds are stacked against Crawford, but history shows it's not impossible.
Some famous examples offer a blueprint for how Crawford could pull off the upset. In 1987, Sugar Ray Leonard came out of retirement and moved up two divisions to beat Marvin Hagler. Leonard used mobility, accuracy and ring smarts to control the pace and limit power exchanges.
When Manny Pacquiao shocked Oscar De La Hoya in 2008, he focused on his own strengths rather than trying to match De La Hoya's size. The lesson for Crawford is to rely on technique, agility and fight IQ instead of power.
In 2013, Adrien Broner moved up from 135 to 147 pounds to beat Paulie Malignaggi. Broner won with precision, rhythm control and smart punch selection without needing a knockout.
For Crawford, the key will be adapting physically without losing what makes him great. He'll need to avoid a slugfest and turn the fight into a chess match, winning with every move.
It's a massive challenge, but Crawford has the skills to make it interesting. If he can find the right strategy, we could see something special when these two elite fighters clash.