World Boxing Information spoke solely to former tremendous middleweight contender Erik Skoglund, who delivered a glowing verdict on Terence Crawford’s career-defining victory over Canelo Alvarez — whereas warning in opposition to future jumps up the scales.
Crawford shocked the boxing world in 2025 when he rose from welterweight beginnings to dominate the Mexican icon at 168 kilos. For Skoglund, the Omaha native’s masterclass cemented him as one of many sport’s true generational greats.
“I feel it was good,” Skoglund informed WBN. “He managed Canelo in a means I haven’t seen earlier than. I’ve solely seen Canelo lose resulting from measurement — apart from the combat in opposition to Floyd, which he misplaced due to a scarcity of expertise. Crawford is a tremendous fighter, and he fought a tremendous combat.”
The Warning: Gentle Heavyweight is ‘Too Large a Step’
Having conquered at 135, 140, 147, 154, and now 168, Crawford’s willingness to climb divisions has left followers speculating a few transfer to gentle heavyweight. However Skoglund, who campaigned in that very division, believes it will be a mistake.
“Canelo, he took his time rising into tremendous middleweight,” he defined. “He didn’t simply go up, change his thoughts, and return once more. I don’t suppose Crawford would attempt himself at gentle heavyweight. It’s too massive a step, and since he comes from 147, he doesn’t need to show himself at 175.”
The Undisputed Panorama: Necessary Pitfalls and the Trendy Drawback
On the broader panorama, the place undisputed championships have gotten more and more widespread, Skoglund welcomed the readability however warned of pitfalls with the sanctioning physique.
“In a method, I feel it’s good. You get one champion, and eventually, he has to face his necessary challenger. The issue is when the organizations have completely different mandates, and you’ll be left ready a very long time in your shot.”
Skoglund’s warning displays a standard battle of the trendy period, the place undisputed champions often face conflicting, speedy calls for from the 4 main our bodies. With necessary deadlines usually due at completely different occasions, current historical past has proven that titleholders, together with Canelo, could be pressured to vacate belts fairly than face a much less marketable necessary opponent in favor of a extra profitable unification or rematch.
With Crawford now undisputed at tremendous middleweight, his legacy continues to increase past debate. Skoglund’s perception underlines what most observers already imagine — boxing could by no means see one other fighter navigate the scales with such precision and dominance.
Concerning the Writer
Phil Jay is a veteran boxing journalist with over 15 years of expertise protecting the worldwide combat scene. As Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing Information since 2010, Jay has interviewed dozens of world champions and reported ringside on boxing’s largest nights. [View all articles by Phil Jay] and study extra about his work in fight sports activities journalism.
