Terence Crawford might nonetheless have his greatest battle forward of him.
Forty fights into his undefeated boxing profession, Crawford doesn’t have a lot left to show. This Saturday at a Riyadh Season occasion in Los Angeles, he strikes as much as the tremendous welterweight division to battle Israil Madrimov for a vacant WBA title — and after that, he may transfer up a pair extra weight courses for the correct opponent.
That opponent? The good Canelo Alvarez.
Throughout an look on The MMA Hour, Crawford was requested what weight class he’d be keen to tackle the bigger Canelo at, and he didn’t hesitate to provide a quantity.
“100 sixty-eight [pounds],” Crawford mentioned. “If that’s the battle in entrance of me, then sure.”
Crawford, 36, has spent nearly all of his profession competing anyplace from 135 to 147 kilos, capturing titles in three divisions alongside the way in which, and he targets one other along with his transfer to 154 kilos in opposition to Madrimov. Leaping as much as 168 kilos for a bout with Canelo, 34, could be the heaviest Crawford has ever weighed for a battle, by far.
Undefeated welterweight Jaron “Boots” Ennis additionally looms as a possible opponent after not too long ago defeating David Avanesyan to retain his IBF title, which was promoted from interim standing as a consequence of Crawford (since stripped of his share of the IBF title) being anticipated to rematch Errol Spence Jr. sooner or later sooner or later fairly than face Ennis.
Sadly for Ennis, Crawford would like a matchup with Canelo, with the understanding that it might possible require the involvement of Riyadh Season promoter Turki Alalshikh.
“Being the place I’m at proper now, I’m wanting on the battle that makes probably the most sense. and that’s not ‘Boots,’” Crawford mentioned. “Canelo’s going to deliver far more to my legacy, far more to my checking account, as a result of on the finish of the day when boxing is completed with, what’s going to we have now? I need to have a legacy that’s one thing that folks discuss for the ages, and never solely that, I need to have a checking account that lasts as properly.”
“I believe it might be everyone’s selection. Canelo must agree, I must agree, Turki must agree as a result of he’s the one which’s dispensing the cash, so numerous shifting elements received to be concerned in that battle.”
As for Spence, who Crawford defeated by ninth-round TKO in July 2023, Crawford continues to be ready for the decision to make their rematch official.
“I didn’t hear something from Staff Spence or his handlers after the battle, so all the pieces simply form of went chilly turkey,” Crawford mentioned.
