By Chris Williams: Terence Crawford says he’s physically ready now to fight Canelo Alvarez for his undisputed super middleweight champion at 168.
Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) states it’s not about weight but more about skills. He says he’s got enough power to make Canelo (59-2-2, 39 KOs) “respect” him.
Crawford will be slower, easier to hit, sluggish, and likely to gas out at 168. If he chooses to come into the fight with Canelo at the same weight he fights at for his bouts at welterweight, he might be too small and weak to compete.
Of course, Canelo has the power to get Crawford’s respect, and if he’s counting on the Mexican star being weight drained or damaged from two car crashes like his last opponent Errol Spence Jr., he will be out of luck. Canelo will be at full power at 168 and be dangerous.
It remains to be seen whether Crawford can get a shot at Canelo. Just because Crawford is ambitious and wants the fight to take place doesn’t necessarily mean it will.
David Benavidez & Demetrius Andrade would have fought Canelo years ago if it were that easy. Gennadiy Golovkin wouldn’t have had to wait until he was 37 before getting a shot at Canelo.
GGG was 32 when he started talking about wanting a fight with Alvarez and had to wait five years. If Crawford has to wait five years, too, that will make him 41, and it’s questionable whether he’ll still be fighting at that age. Craawffodd has said that he wants to retire when he’s 40.
“I’m ready now. People think it’s all about weight, but I think it’s skill. I’ve got the power to make anybody respect me; I don’t care what your weight is,” said Terrence Crawford to Joe Rogan.
“I’ll definitely have to gain weight. I just believe in my abilities. Canelo’s not a big guy. H’s 5’8″. He’s big, muscular-wise, but as far as height. So, that would be nothing. We have to see. That would be dope,” said Crawford about going from 147 to 168.
“You know Canelo & Jermell are fighting. I wanted to fight Jermell next since he was the 154-lb undisputed champion, but as you know, they’re going to strip him of his [WBO] belt once the bell rings
“That’s something that’s never been done before. It’s greatness,” said Crawford about potentially becoming a three-division undisputed champion. This is my era, and I’m taking it. Nobody is going to stop me.
“I know I wanted to fight Jermell, but if he loses to Canelo. I’ve always said that it’s a big step for a fighter to go up three weight classes from 147 to 168,” said Crawford.
https://youtu.be/nJKGdZD_Euo?t=27