Callum Smith questions whether Terence Crawford can handle Canelo Alvarez’s size when he moves up two divisions to fight him at super-middleweight in September.
If Terence showed some brains by taking on two or three predatory sharks in the 168lb weight class, fans would know if he was up to it. Since Crawford doesn’t want to do that, all you can think is that he’s only there for the payday, and fans will be pissed afterwards, feeling like got rooked from your money.
Crawford is eager for that fight against the Mexican superstar, but has done nothing to show if he can handle the jump in weight.
Crawford too small?
Light heavyweight Smith, who shared the ring with Canelo (62-2-2, 39 KOs) when he competed at 168, points out that Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) started his career in the lower weights at 135. So, to advance two weight class at 154 and fighting Canelo at 168 is a “tough ask” as far as size goes.
Smith isn’t completely counting on the 37-year-old Crawford, noting that Canelo is starting to show signs of age, but still feels it will be tough for the Nebraska native.
Crawford hasn’t fought at super middleweight, coming up short at 154 against Israil Madrimov, and will be coming off a one-year hiatus from the ring if the Canelo fight happens in September. If so, he will be out of the ring for 13 months.
“It’s a great fight, they’re both stars and they’re exceptional. It will be interesting to see how the weight affects Crawford moving forward [to 168]”, said Callum Smith Professional boxing fanstalking about a possible Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford match in September.
“As we saw with [former undisputed 154-lb champion Jermell] Charlo. He’s a very good fighter, but he couldn’t really handle him [Canelo]. It’s okay to go up in weight, but there’s natural size, and Crawford comes in at lower weights.
“He is a world champion in four categories. So getting two more up against the likes of Canelo will be a tall order, but as we saw with [undisputed light heavyweight champion Artur] Beterbiev [in his recent close fight against Dmitry Bivol]Canelo is not getting any younger.
Spence Win A Fluke
Crawford was at his best at 135 and 140 when he had a size advantage against less-than-stellar opposition in those weight classes when he fought in them. At 147, Bud was slower and easier to hit, and it took a car accident, Errol Spence, inactive, injury-ridden, and exhausted to make Crawford look good.
Before that, he didn’t look impressive in fights against David Avanesian, Jose Benavidez Jr. and Jeff Horn in the light heavyweight division. He looked like an average fighter, better than those low-quality guys, but not a super talent.
It is interesting how much attention was paid to Terence’s victory over Spence. The fans suddenly thought he was a fun knockout and that’s how he fought throughout his career.
Crawford didn’t look like that or fight like that during his career. If fans had watched his entire career, as I have, they would have seen that he was Shakur’s mover and counterpuncher, with his knockouts coming against older fighters.
Crawford’s recent knockouts
Errol Spence: 34
David Avanesyan: 35
Shawn Porter: 34
Kell Brook: 34
Amir Khan: 34
“He’s had a tough career and he’s had injuries and stuff. As a boxing fan, I enjoy seeing these types of fights. Now, as a fan, I sit back and watch it. I’m looking forward to it,” Smith said of the Canelo vs. Crawford fight.
Canelo is slowing down at 34 and is not the fighter he was four years ago, in 2021, when he won the undisputed super middleweight title against Calen Plant. However, he is much bigger and stronger and naturally weighs 168 pounds.
He is also four years younger than Crawford, who turns 38 in September and is coming off a lackluster performance against Israil Madrimov in his debut at 154 on August 3, 2024.
