Terence Crawford: “I’m the Biggest Fight Canelo Has Left”

WBA junior middleweight champion Terence Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) believes that a fight between him and super middleweight superstar Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (62-2-2, 39 KOs) will be one for the ages—and that a win would elevate him into boxing immortality.

In an interview with The Ring, Crawford didn’t hold back:

“I’m the biggest fight Canelo has left. I’m not saying if—when I beat Canelo Alvarez, I believe I’ll go down as one of the top three greatest fighters of all time, right alongside Sugar Ray Robinson and Muhammad Ali. Those spots in history are untouchable. I think Canelo belongs among the legends too.

I already see myself among the greats. Moving up two full weight classes to dethrone a future undisputed super middleweight champion—without ever having fought at 160 or 168—that’s Henry Armstrong-level stuff. It would be incredible.

People always say a smaller guy can’t beat a bigger one. I want to rewrite that story.”

Crawford admitted the challenge will be serious—but not necessarily the hardest of his career:

“The fight with Canelo will be tough. For both of us. But I can’t say for sure it’ll be the toughest of my career—I thought the same thing before facing Spence.

We all know Canelo’s big, strong, a precise puncher, great at slipping shots and countering. But we’ve never seen Terence Crawford at 168. We don’t know if I can take his punches. We don’t know if he can go toe-to-toe with me. We don’t know if he can pressure me the way people think he will, just because he’s been at this weight longer.

That’s why we fight. I’m just excited to have the chance to face another legend. It’s going to be a thrilling fight. And I’m looking forward to it—and winning it.”

Canelo Alvarez is set to face William Scull on May 3 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for the undisputed super middleweight title. If victorious, a mega-fight with Crawford is being targeted for September.