Terence Crawford will have a tough time jumping up yet another weight class for his superfight against Canelo Alvarez.
The four-weight champion is jumping up to Super Middleweight to challenge Canelo Alvarez on September 13.
Terence Crawford wants to add Canelo’s undisputed Super Middleweight belts to his collection and is willing to put his undefeated streak on the line to do so.
Despite dominating four weight classes already, this last weight jump may be a step too far for “Bud”, according to a man who knows both fighters very well.
Amir Khan warned Terence Crawford to avoid gaining weight for the Canelo Alvarez fight
Amir Khan has suffered defeats to both Canelo and Crawford, so is uniquely placed to question whether “Bud” can make the step up to Super Middleweight for the bout.
Speaking with Fight Hub TV, the former world champion gave his view on the fight and questioned whether Crawford is making such a big step up for this fight with Canelo.
He advised against the four-weight champion facing Canelo at Super Middleweight, explaining the wear and tear it can leave on your body, as well as the immense pressure Crawford will be facing for the fight.
Khan said: “I highly respect and say pound-for-pound the best fighter is Crawford by far and beats anyone.
“But when you start putting weight on and you go up a weight and you fight these guys like Canelo, even though Canelo might be now getting a little bit older and it might be slowing down a little bit, but he’s still going to be very dangerous.
That punch power, you’re still going to get tagged. You’re still going to get hit. You’re going to have to spar heavier guys to get ready for that anyway.
“So, you’re going to be taking a lot of wear and tear anyway. You’re going to have to put a few pounds on. Does he need to put that pressure on himself?
He’s done what no one’s ever done before – two-time undisputed world champion. So, why not just enjoy?
“But obviously, you want to go for that next challenge. Now, for him, he wants to go for that Canelo. I would advise him not to go for that.”
Khan is uniquely placed in that he suffered knockout defeats to both men at the end of his incredible boxing career.
Both Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford knocked out Amir Khan
In some of the last fights of his career, Khan fought both Alvarez and Crawford in fights he’d rather forget about.
The English fighter challenged Canelo for the WBC and The Ring Middleweight belts in 2016, aiming for his first world title win since his defeat to Danny Garcia in 2012.
However, it didn’t go well for Khan, as he was knocked out by the more powerful Canelo at the end of the sixth round after being knocked out cold by a huge right hand.
Things didn’t go much better when he challenged Crawford three years later. He lasted six rounds once again after dropping down to Welterweight, although the ending was much more controversial.
While the fight was ruled a knockout win for Crawford, an apparent low blow saw Khan’s corner pull him out of the fight in a disappointing end to the bout.
Having faced both of them, Khan may know something we don’t when warning Crawford off Canelo in the lead-up to their bout.