Terence Crawford has always defied the odds and in doing so has climbed four weight divisions to this point undefeated
Now, with his sights set on a possible victory over the great Canelo Alvarez on September 13 (postponed from September 12 due to a scheduling conflict at Allegiant Stadium), Terence Crawford is on the verge of etching his name alongside legends such as Floyd Mayweather Jr. as he prepares to face the Mexican in Las Vegas, Los Angeles or New York
By itself, that is already an achievement worth its weight in gold. However, surprisingly, even with a resume that most fighters would dream of, doubt still haunts him as closely as a shadow.
Who is Lester Martinez and why would he replace Crawford?
Lester Martinez, a name few expected to hear so close to the fight, enters the fray. Just three months before the fight, Martinez, the fearsome super middleweight who turned professional in 2019, is emerging as a possible replacement for Bud, should the unexpected happen
If he gets a place on the September card, it would mark his first shot at a world title. Naturally, skeptics are raising eyebrows; after all, it’s not every day that a relatively inexperienced contender shares the stage with Canelo Alvarez
But Martinez is not blindly going after the lion. As a stablemate of Crawford and a product of Brian “BoMac” McIntyre’s team, he has been forged in fire. So how did this dark horse suddenly enter the race?
Replacement is increasingly being discussed
“Lester Martinez, designated as Terence Crawford’s substitute opponent in September,” BrunchBoxing posted on X a few days ago as an exclusive alert. The post hinted at a great opportunity for ‘The Legend Killer,’ suggesting that the undefeated Guatemalan super middleweight could soon have his chance against Canelo Alvarez
So why now? Well, sources told BrunchBoxing that Martinez has already agreed to a contingency deal to replace Terence Crawford if he pulls out. And if that happens, he will face a $2 million payday (the biggest to date).
Despite the hype surrounding the showdown between Crawford and Canelo, it is worth noting that nothing has been decided yet. While the fight was announced for the weekend of Mexico’s Independence Day in September, contracts remain unsigned, and both the date and venue are still in the process of being changed.
There is tentatively a kickoff press conference planned for June in Riyadh, but as is often the case in boxing, the whole event could change at a moment’s notice. That uncertainty has opened the door for Martinez, who quietly positions himself as the best insurance policy.
Meanwhile, the 19-0 boxer is keeping himself fit. He is scheduled to face France’s Pierre Dibombe on July 12 in a 10-round regional title fight, streamed live on ProBox TV from the Frontwave Arena in Oceanside, CaliforniaThe fight is considered both a preparation and an exhibition, keeping the 29-year-old active while potentially generating interest ahead of his appearance in September. In addition, BrunchBoxing sources confirm that even if he does not replace the 41-0 boxer on the main card, Martinez is still assured of his fight on the preliminary card.
So, for now, Martinez is just one call away from the biggest moment of his career. But it seems that Terence Crawford also has a showdown in September.
Terence Crawford leaves his camp
In September, the undisputed two-division champion will move up to 168 pounds to face fellow pound-for-pound titan Canelo Alvarez. And there will be no warm-up fights
But with almost six months of preparation, he has received a full training camp to get everything right. In addition, his lifelong trainer Brian “BoMac” McIntyre confirmed to Boxing Scene that part of that preparation includes sparring rounds with none other than Lester Martinez.
Martinez comes off a fourth-round knockout win over Joeshon James last weekend, which builds on the momentum he gained by outpointing Carlos Gongora last year
His natural size, physicality and aggressive style make him the ideal sparring partner for Terence Crawford, who is preparing for a big weight jump. Of course, Terence Crawford is no stranger to making history. But beating Canelo at 168? That would be something completely different.
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