“Only One Elite Opponent”: Canelo Chides Crawford Over His Resume

Undisputed super-middleweight champion Saúl Álvarez (63-2-2, 39 KO) and WBA light-middleweight title-holder Terence Crawford (41-0, 31 KO) locked horns over the quality of Crawford’s opposition. Canelo isn’t convinced the American has met genuine elite fighters.

Álvarez: “Don’t get me wrong, OK? He’s a good fighter—a great fighter. I’ve always said that. I’ve watched him call me out, win fights, all of it. I’ve said before: he’s great. But look at his career—name one elite opponent.”

Crawford: “So Viktor Postol wasn’t elite?”

Álvarez: “Who?”

Crawford: “Viktor Postol.”

Álvarez: “Who’s that guy?”

Crawford: “So just because he wasn’t heavily promoted he’s not elite? Ricky Burns wasn’t elite?”

Álvarez: “A forty-year-old champion beat Mr Postol in my gym back then.”

Crawford: “So Ricky Burns wasn’t elite?”

Álvarez: “Burns wasn’t elite. Look—there are champions, there are good fighters, but elite is different.”

Crawford: “I’ll be fighting another elite guy in September.”

Álvarez: “OK. We’ll see. Don’t take me wrong—you’re an excellent fighter. I hope Uncle Turki pays you well, because this will be the last—”

Crawford: “Maybe. But when fighters share a ring with me, they’re different afterward. I just hope your career doesn’t end.”

Álvarez: “Fighters come out different after facing me, too.”

The pair will settle the debate on 13 September in Las Vegas, USA, with the undisputed super-middleweight crown. Here we talked about all the new features of the fight: the knockout bonus, the most expensive belt in the history of The Ring, and more.

Photo: Ring Magazine