Tim Bradley isn’t holding back. This week, the former boxing champ took to his YouTube channel to call out Canelo Alvarez, urging the unified super middleweight king to stop “running away” and give Terence Crawford the fight he’s been asking for.
Bradley’s message was loud and clear: fans want this fight, and Crawford deserves a shot at greatness. But let’s be real-does this matchup even make sense?
According to Bradley, Canelo owes it to boxing fans to make this fight happen. “You already ran away from the Benavidez fight,”Bradley said. “Make the fight with Crawford. That’s the fight everybody wants to see.” He even dismissed the narrative that Canelo’s size and power would overwhelm Crawford, pointing out that Canelo started his career at 147 pounds and stands the same height as Crawford.
It’s a bold stance, but Bradley’s not wrong that this matchup would generate buzz. Canelo, with a record of 62-2-2 (39 KOs), is the sport’s biggest star, while Crawford, undefeated at 41-0 (31 KOs), has long been considered one of the most skilled fighters in the game.
Crawford’s case for Canelo: A dream matchup or a long shot?
Here’s where things get tricky. Crawford’s last fight against Israil Madrimov didn’t exactly inspire confidence. Sure, he won, but it was far from dominant-Crawford took too many right hands and looked less sharp than usual.
For Canelo, there’s not much incentive to take this fight. He’s already proven himself against bigger, stronger opponents, and Crawford hasn’t done the legwork to earn a shot at 168 pounds. Critics argue that if Crawford really wanted this fight, he’d first go through the likes of David Benavidez or Artur Beterbiev to prove he can hang with the big boys.
Boxing fans are split. On one hand, the idea of a skill-versus-power showdown between two generational talents is intriguing. On the other, Crawford’s age (37) and lack of experience at higher weights make this feel like a lopsided affair.
At the end of the day, Canelo doesn’t need this fight. He’s already cemented his legacy as one of the greatest, and he’s got plenty of other options to consider. As for Crawford, if he really wants to share the ring with Canelo, he might have to take the tougher road to prove he belongs.
Tim Bradley can keep pushing for it, but for now, this fight feels more like a dream than reality.
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