Terence Crawford is eyeing a fight with fellow four-division champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, and he’s not shy about explaining why he thinks it’s boxing’s defining legacy moment. He explained it all during the World Boxing Council Convention, explaining why fans should sit up and take notice.
As Crawford says: “That’s why the fight should happen so that there can be all the answers to the questions that everyone is asking.” He is aware of the size and strength advantage that Canelo brings, but he refuses to be intimidated: “Canelo is the biggest, the strongest fighter, he has a lot of experience like me, he has been around for a long time. I have had the speed, the movement, the long arms, they were around the same height, so it’s an interesting fight.”
Crawford attributes his versatility to deep preparation: “I think I’m training so hard and so long to study the sport of boxing. That way, if I need it, I have it. If I don’t, then that’s what it’s, so I just practice what I preach. I don’t know what style I’m going to fight Canelo with, I just know I’m going to fight him.” It is nothing if he is not confident, revealing jokingly that he is not interested in losing: “Yes, I always want to win. If I compete against someone, I want to do it all the way and not just do it for fun” .
What if Canelo is not game? Crawford shrugs: “We can’t wait for the Canelo fight to happen. If he does … if not, good luck to Canelo. He’s a tremendous champion … he has the right to pick and choose who he he wants to fight.” Even the injury problems didn’t faze him: “It is what it is. It’s nothing I can’t handle.”
Nor will he underestimate Canelo’s speed: “I’m not going to count on him being slow.” For me, beating Canelo would be one of the greatest achievements in the history of boxing. So, I’m trying to leave a legacy that will be talked about for ages to come.” Evaluating the historical comparisons, he is succinct: “Donny Lalonde was not the level of Canelo Alvarez … so … they are two different fights.”
