One of the biggest criticisms Saúl “Canelo” Alvarez has faced throughout his career is the perceived quality of his opponents. But the Mexican superstar is pushing back-hard. In a rare show of public respect, Alvarez called American fighter Terence Crawford one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the sport today.
While Canelo has shared the ring with legends like Floyd Mayweather Jr., Gennady Golovkin, Dmitry Bivol, and Shane Mosley, some boxing fans continue to question whether he consistently takes on the most dangerous opponents in each division. Those doubts have cast a shadow over the 17 titles he’s claimed so far.
But with his showdown against Crawford just under two months away, Canelo made it clear: Crawford isn’t just worthy-he’s elite.
Canelo’s pound-for-pound picks: Crawford makes the top 3
During a media stop in New York to promote the upcoming bout, Canelo was asked to name his current top three pound-for-pound fighters. His answer? “Besides me, okay. I think… Usyk, Inoue, and Crawford.”
No one questioned the inclusion of Oleksandr Usyk or Naoya Inoue-two absolute titans in the sport. But adding Crawford to the list sent a powerful message: not only does Canelo respect his future opponent, he’s directly addressing critics who question his choice of challengers.
And this wasn’t just a one-off compliment. At a separate press conference in Las Vegas, Canelo doubled down. “He’s a good fighter,” Alvarez said of Crawford. “He has everything. He’s a complete fighter. He has a lot of experience. I never underestimate my opponents. I always train like I’m going to fight Mike Tyson in his era.”
Mutual respect reigns between Canelo and Crawford
In a refreshing change from the usual trash talk that dominates boxing press tours, Crawford has matched Canelo’s respectful tone. “I don’t even know the last time I’ve been this excited for a fight,” Crawford said at the same Las Vegas event. “September 13, it’s going to be a great night of boxing.”
He added: “God don’t make no mistakes. There’s a reason He waited all this time to put me on this stage with another all-time great like Canelo. Two Hall of Famers going head-to-head in one of the biggest events in the last 20 years. I’m looking forward to it.”
The countdown to September 13 is on, and if this mutual respect is any indication, fans are in for a night of pure boxing brilliance.
Read the full article here
