Terence Crawford isn’t used to playing the role of the underdog. But with a move up three weight classes to challenge Canelo Alvarez on September 13 at Allegiant Stadium, he finds himself in unfamiliar territory. While many see this as an uphill battle, Shakur Stevenson sees it differently-way differently.
When Stevenson sat down with boxing legend Andre Ward on the All The Smoke Fight podcast, he didn’t mince words about how this fight would go. His three-word prediction? “Beats him easy.”
The Mayweather comparison and Canelo’s weaknesses
Stevenson pointed to Floyd Mayweather’s dominant performance against a much younger Canelo in 2013. “For me, it’s a blueprint already,” he said. “Floyd was smaller, but he kept Canelo on the outside. You do that, and it’s an easy night.”
The idea that Canelo struggles against slick, defensive fighters isn’t new. Mayweather made him look lost, and some argue that even Erislandy Lara and Dmitry Bivol showed similar vulnerabilities. The question is whether Crawford, jumping from 147 lbs to 168 lbs, can execute that same game plan against a much bigger and more experienced Canelo.
Can Crawford handle the weight jump?
Crawford has dominated every division he’s been in, but moving up to 168 lbs is a different challenge entirely. His last fight at 154 lbs against Israil Madrimov wasn’t exactly smooth sailing. And with Canelo’s power and experience at super middleweight, this will be his toughest test yet.
That said, Crawford himself believes a victory here will solidify his legacy. “I’m really moving up three weight classes, fighting arguably one of the best Mexicans ever, at his weight, no rehydration clause, no nothing,” he said on Cigar Talk. “You just fight him at his best.”
Stevenson, though, sounds even more confident than Crawford. Whether he’s onto something or just underestimating Canelo’s evolution, we’ll find out soon enough. September 13 can’t come fast enough.
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