Now just a month out from their blockbuster title fight, Canelo Alvarez has been offered quite the interesting challenge by Terence Crawford.
Putting his super middleweight titles on the line, Canelo will look to snatch unbeaten Nebraska star Crawford’s ‘0’ – as well as defend his status as undisputed king of the division.
And while the build-up to their monstrous clash in ‘Sin City’ has been cordial for the most part, boxing fans and pundits are split on who will emerge with the win.
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With all the titles up for grabs at super middleweight, Crawford, who is making his limit bow, has urged Canelo to make some changes to his approach in the ring.
Terence Crawford urges Canelo Alvarez to ‘step up’ his performance
Most recently, Crawford tied up with Israil Madrimov in his move to the light middleweight limit, snatcheing the WBA and vacant WBO interim divisional crowns in a routine unanimous decision win.
As for Jalisco megastar Canelo, the defending champion became undisputed kingpin with a less-than-heralded win over William Scull as recently as May of this year.
But with many in the community calling their recent performances into question, Omaha pugilist Crawford has encouraged Canelo to bring the heat to their Las Vegas shootout.
“I’m definitely honored to be in that situation and to share the ring with another great,” Crawford told Boxing News Online. “It’s gonna be a hell of a night come September 13th.
“A lot of people criticized my last performance,” Crawford explained. “We both need to step it up, I guess.”
Urging Canelo to bring his best to the ring in their anticipated pairing, Crawford has also been encouraged to fight with freedom by a former world champion great.
Chris Algieri breaks down Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford
Weighing up the stakes on offer for both in their massive title affair in Las Vegas, former super lightweight champion Chris Algieri has claimed Crawford is on the better side of the equation already.
Pointing to Crawford’s move up in weight to fight Canelo, New York veteran Algieri believes that factor puts the challenger in a “win-win situation” already.
“The guy (Crawford) may do it [beat Canelo], and if he loses, I don’t really think it affects his legacy all that much,” Algieri told Fight Hub TV.
“All the accomplishments that he already has, Crawford. They’re not going to be forgotten. He’s jumping up two weight classes.
“I think it’s a win-win, loss-loss situation for these guys,” Algieri explained. “A win-win for Crawford, and a lose-lose for Canelo.