As the boxing world turns its eyes toward Las Vegas this September, the anticipation surrounding Saul “Canelo” Alvarez vs. Terence “Bud” Crawford continues to intensify. The high-stakes clash, scheduled for Saturday, September 13, will pit two of the sport’s most decorated pound-for-pound champions against each other in a matchup rich with legacy implications.
Canelo, the reigning undisputed super-middleweight champion, enters the bout looking to defend his throne against Crawford, who seeks to etch his name in history by becoming the first male boxer to become undisputed in three separate weight classes.
Veteran trainer Abel Sanchez, known for his work with Gennady Golovkin during both of his classic battles against Canelo, didn’t mince words when sharing his thoughts on the showdown. In an interview with K.O. Artist Sports, Sanchez emphasized that natural size will be a decisive element—one that favors Canelo.
“Absolutely, there are weight classes for a reason,” Sanchez said. “I think Crawford is a great fighter—so was Bob Foster—but he’s moving up against a guy who’s never really been hurt, aside from a fluke shot from Jose Cotto. Canelo has handled some of the most dangerous punchers in higher divisions. It’s a big ask for Terence.”
Crawford, 37, may be the smaller man, but his ambition is as grand as ever. After capturing the WBA super welterweight title in his 154-pound debut last year by outpointing Israil Madrimov, “Bud” now sets his sights on yet another challenge at a heavier weight. However, Sanchez sees that leap as fraught with risk.
A historic test awaits Crawford
There’s no question that Terence Crawford is stepping into the most demanding bout of his career. His masterclass over Errol Spence Jr. solidified his place among the sport’s elite, but this time, the test comes with a size and power disadvantage that’s impossible to ignore.
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Still, Crawford has made a career of defying expectations. Should he upset Canelo and capture undisputed status in a third weight class, the achievement would rank among the greatest in boxing history. For now, the experts are divided—but Abel Sanchez has no doubts.