After Terence Crawford’s impressive victory over Errol Spence to become the four-belt welterweight champion, fans are buzzing about the possibility of Crawford facing Canelo Alvarez at super middleweight for an undisputed championship title. The idea of two champions going head-to-head in the ring is always exciting, but the question remains – is Crawford ready for such a challenge?
Crawford’s trainer, Brian ‘BoMac’ McIntyre, is quick to point out that talk of a potential fight with Canelo is premature. Crawford has a tough clash ahead of him on August 3rd against Israil Madrimov, the WBA junior middleweight champion. McIntyre emphasizes that Madrimov is the biggest puncher that the 36-year-old Crawford will have faced in his career. With 16 years in the game, Madrimov poses a significant threat to Crawford, especially at this stage in his career.
Throughout his career, Crawford has faced some tough opponents known for their punching power. Fighters such as Errol Spence, Kell Brook, and Egidijus Kavaliauskas have all tested Crawford’s skills in the ring. However, facing Madrimov at this point in his career presents a unique challenge for Crawford, given the power and experience of his upcoming opponent.
While McIntyre stresses that Crawford is focused on his upcoming fight against Madrimov, it’s hard to ignore the allure of a potential showdown with Canelo. The financial incentives of facing Canelo are hard to resist, with the promise of a significant payday regardless of the outcome. However, overlooking Madrimov would be a mistake, as Crawford must stay focused on the task at hand before considering future opportunities.
There are several factors that could work against Crawford in his upcoming fight against Madrimov. With 13 months of inactivity, Crawford may have some ring rust to shake off. Additionally, turning 37 in September and stepping into a new weight class at 154 pounds present their own challenges. Facing the biggest puncher of his career also adds an element of risk for Crawford, who cannot afford to be overconfident in the ring.
While the prospect of a potential showdown between Crawford and Canelo is exciting for fans and lucrative for both fighters, Crawford must first focus on the task at hand – defeating Israil Madrimov. The road to facing Canelo is fraught with challenges and risks, and Crawford cannot afford to overlook the immediate threat posed by Madrimov. Only time will tell if Crawford has what it takes to navigate these obstacles and emerge victorious in both the short and long term of his career.