In anticipation of a potential high-caliber showdown, Terence “Bud” Crawford has been full of praise for undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez. Crawford, who is expected to face the Mexican boxer later this year in a highly anticipated clash, recognized the significance of his potential rival. For this fight to materialize, Canelo must first overcome the undefeated William Scull on May 3 in his defense of the undisputed title. A win for the Mexican would pave the way for the long-awaited duel with Crawford.
Throughout his award-winning career, Crawford has dominated the welterweight division, with his most recent bout fought at 154 pounds. Moving up to super middleweight presents a considerable challenge, requiring Crawford to increase his muscle mass and face a naturally larger opponent. Nevertheless, Crawford remains confident in his ability to defeat Canelo, even without relying on a knockout.
Interestingly, Crawford believes that many underestimate Canelo Alvarez’s boxing skills, mistakenly reducing him to just a puncher. In a conversation with Shannon Sharpe on the Club Shay Shay podcast, “Bud” expressed his disagreement with this perception, emphasizing the versatility and talent of the Mexican fighter.
“If you can punch, you can punch. It may not have the same effect on a bigger guy that it did on a smaller guy, but if you’re sharp, you’re sharp. And I don’t gotta knock him out. I just got to beat him,” Crawford explained, hinting at a strategy based on skill and precision.
WBC/WBA/WBO super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez (R) punches Edgar Berlanga on September 14, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)
Is Canelo just a puncher?
Crawford went further in his analysis, stating that punching power isn’t the sole determining factor in a fight. “Canelo’s not just a puncher. I don’t know why, I don’t know why people think that. They don’t know boxing, they just see him as this strong, bigger man. He’s a great boxer. People are overlooking his boxing skills and assuming he’s just a puncher, which is not true,” Crawford emphasized, aiming to correct the oversimplified view some have of the Mexican champion.
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The threat Canelo poses to Crawford
With a more complete perspective, Crawford described the overall threat posed by Canelo. “We’re not looking at Canelo as just a puncher; we’re looking at him as a complete fighter. He can take a punch, he can deliver a punch, he can counterpunch you, he can box you.“
“He’s a good body puncher, has excellent balance, and he’s never out of position. We’re considering all of that,” Crawford concluded, revealing the depth of his preparation and the respect he has for his potential future adversary. The anticipation for this potential clash of styles and talents continues to build in the boxing world.
