Shakur Stevenson says he’s been believing that Terence Crawford had the type to beat Canelo Alvarez even earlier than Dmitry Bivol did it a number of years in the past. Stevenson says he watched Crawford damage heavyweights, and he doesn’t consider Canelo can stroll ahead in opposition to him along with his energy.
Stevenson says he began believing Crawford would beat Canelo in 2021 when he fought welterweight Shakur Porter. He felt that the then 34-year-old Porter was an excellent gauge for predicting Crawford’s efficiency three divisions above at 168.
Loyalty vs. Logic
Crawford, 37, will problem Canelo for his belts at 168 on September thirteenth. Regardless of the 2 division transfer up in weight, Shakur doesn’t see it as an issue that Terence. He says he’s believed Crawford was the perfect fighter at tremendous middleweight for a few years.
The WBC light-weight champion Stevenson mentioned that it gained’t matter that Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) is shifting up two divisions from 154 to 168 to problem unified champion Canelo (62-2-2, 38 KO).
“I’ve been placing it out since Crawford fought Shawn Porter [2021 at welterweight]. I mentioned that Terence Crawford would beat Canelo Alvarez proper after he fought [34-year-old] Shawn Porter,” mentioned Shakur Stevenson to Ring Journal, revealing that he’d predicted 4 years in the past that Terence Crawford would beat Canelo.
It’s affordable to imagine that Shakur’s views on the Canelo-Crawford battle are influenced by his shut friendship with Bud, and his loyalty to him. That’s a pure factor. He clearly desires to see Crawford getting this chance given to him with out incomes it the best way different fighters need to.
The Heavyweight Declare
“I felt in that weight class [168], Terence Crawford is the best,” mentioned Shakur about how he’s felt that Crawford is the perfect at tremendous middleweight with out ever preventing there. “I simply really feel that with Canelo’s type, and that is earlier than [Dmitry] Bivol did it. I felt that Terence Crawford was the one man that would beat Canelo along with his type.
“I’ve been saying it, even earlier than Bud was saying it. Bud is a southpaw. Him being a southpaw makes it more durable for Canelo,” Shakur continued praising Crawford. “He has issues with them after I watched him battle John Ryder. He wasn’t that good. It’s simply that Canelo was preventing in opposition to a southpaw.
“How does Canelo deal with the ability of Bud? When Bud hits him, is he simply going to stroll ahead and simply take the punches? I simply don’t know. I seen Bud damage heavyweights,” mentioned Shakur.
If Shakur believes Crawford has been the perfect fighter at 168 for years, why hasn’t he moved as much as take a look at himself? He might have accomplished that years in the past, and made much more cash than he has at welterweight. The one massive cash battle Crawford has had at 147 is Errol Spence. If he might beat ALL the tremendous middleweights years, as Shakur maintains, why didn’t he do it?
Crawford couldn’t damage Israil Madrimov along with his punches in his final battle at 154, and he’s nowhere near being a heavyweight. If he had the form of energy to harm heavyweights, he ought to have proven that in opposition to Madrimov.
Boxing Information 24 » Stevenson: Crawford’s Energy Will Overwhelm Canelo, I’ve Stated It Since 2021
Final Up to date on 03/14/2025