Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford is in negotiations for September, Mexican Independence Day, for Alvarez’s three super middleweight titles at 168, with no rehydration clause.
If the Canelo-Crawford fight takes place, it could go undisputed if Canelo (62-2-2, 39 KOs) faces IBF champion William Scull on Cinco de Mayo weekend in May. Canelo would be a heavy favorite against Scull to reclaim his IBF title.
Crawford has the size
Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) walks in the 170s, so it shouldn’t be a big deal for him to move up to 168 to challenge Canelo. The main problem Crawford will have is trying to win without going to war with Canelo. If Terence is right to box Canelo, following Mayweather’s plan, as his trainer, Brian ‘BoMac’ McIntyre, said he would do, he will not work to make a decision.
Canelo hits so much harder than Crawford that even though he eats more punches, the judges focus on the bigger shots. That’s how Canelo beat Erislandy Lara, who is much bigger and stronger than Crawford, but doesn’t have enough pop in his punches to win a decision.
We don’t know Crawford’s real rationale for wanting the Canelo fight. He says it’s about “heritage” but also mentions money and doesn’t want to move up to 168 to get a tune-up in the weight class. That’s fear on Crawford’s part. He only reveals that it is about money for him. I feel this is just a boon for him because if he really believes it, he has to move up to super middleweight to show that he can compete in this division by beating one or two of the top dogs.
Since he doesn’t do that, it makes it abundantly clear that Crawford only wants the pension payment against Canelo. It’s good. You blame the hustle. If Turki is willing to give Crawford the dough, that’s on him, but many fans will feel stupid and ripped afterwards for wasting their money on a Jermell Charlo 2.0 type of mismatch. Crawford isn’t even as big or strong as Jermell. He’s certainly not as young as Jermell was when he fought Canelo, Terence will be 38 bwhen he fights Canelo in September.
So, it doesn’t matter if he loses. That’s all the gravy for him for the rest of his life from the unearned earnings Crawford gets in a losing effort against Canelo. He can spend the rest of his life eating caviar and drinking from a glass with his pinkie in the airSpeaking with a fake British accent affected by the upper crust in the American society of the super-rich.
Keyshawn’s Crawford Crusade
“How many count Terence out,” Keyshawn Davis said MillCity Boxing on what does not agree with the perception that the fans have of his gym partner and close friend, Terence Crawford not having a chance against Canelo Alvarez in September.
“How big Canelo is compared to Terence, and they say he has no chance because of his size. You can box him and still KO,” Keyshawn said when asked if Crawford can fight Canelo or if he will try to box him his way to a decision victory.
“Anyone can be KO’d here. I’m not counting on KO’ing Canelo, but of course boxing is about getting the win. Me, put me on that card in the co-main. I don’t care , put me on that card. I’ll be a world champion (Keyshawn hopes),” Davis said.
Keyshawn shouldn’t let his friendship with Crawford make him see the fight for what it is. Canelo is not out. He’ll be too busy running away from it after tasting its power first. Crawford almost lost his last fight in his debut at 154 against Israil Madrimov on August 3 last year. His power hadn’t carried over since 147, and his face was all beat up by the end of the fight. Madrimov had him out, and he was lucky to get the decision because the bigger, cleaner and more effective punches were landed by the champion.
I pray for a place
“Yo, Turk (Al-Sheikh), put me on the card,” Keyshawn said, asking Turki to co-main for the Canelo vs. Crawford fight. “You know who I’d like to fight. I’d like to fight Isaac Cruz. I don’t know why. I feel alone, and he was putting on a great performance. I just feel like it would be an action-packed fight. I’d also like to fight ‘Rayo’ (Jose Valenzuela). I feel like these two guys are always going to fight.”
It’s too late for Keyshawn to fight Isaac Cruz because he’s already there, fighting Ryan Garcia next. He’s not going to fight Keyshawn and he’s going to fight on the ground.
“I’d love to fight both of those guys, and they’re both at 140. We’re not going to fight for the belt,” Keyshawn said. “We can only fight. We can only fight, and both men have losses. So, it’s not like he’s ducking or running to not lose his Os. I’m sure not ducking not to lose O (Note: Keyshawn refuses to fight Andy Cruz, who beats him four times).I just want to fight.
“Win, lose, or draw, I’ve made millions of dollars. I’m on it. I’d love to fight those two guys for sure. I’d love to fight those guys. Just an action-packed fight. Both of us didn’t give up the ground, and trying to control the center of the ring. We’re both trying to get ahead,” Keyshawn said when asked how a fight between him and the 5’4″ Isaac Cruz would play out.
“I’m going to keep throwing. I’m not saying I’m going to fight this guy in the middle of the ring, bro. You saw me fight Miguel Madueno (using a lot of wrestling, picking up Madeuno, using a lot of pushing and rabbit punches) on the backfoot the whole fight In some rounds, I was going forward, and in some rounds (mostly), I was going backwards. All I’m saying is (the recently beaten) Isaac Cruz would be a full fight of action, and I feel like it would be great for the sport of boxing,” Davis said.
Keyshawn needs to put on a sock. Isaac Cruz has more fish to fry, negotiating a mega-money fight against superstar Ryan Garcia on the Turki Al-Sheikh card in May in Times Square in Manhattan, New York. Cruz won’t waste time with Keyshawn Davis, fighting for a screen change, and will likely be fighting all night in a down and dirty fight.
If Keyhawn is looking for a fight, he needs to find some courage and face his four-time conqueror Andy Cruz to try to avenge at least one of his losses against the Cuban talent. I don’t think Keyshawn will, but he has to show that he’s not a fake.
No contract signed yet, but Canelo Alvarez, boxing’s top star, and Terence Crawford are set to meet on Mexican Independence Day Weekend in September, if everything pans out. And as Crawford has said all along, he will make it to 168 pounds with no rehydration clause. pic.twitter.com/Gw0DoA21uH
– Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) January 19, 2025
