Boxing's pound-for-pound king Terence Crawford has thrown down the gauntlet, expressing his desire to face Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez in what could become one of the most significant cross-divisional clashes in boxing history.
The Crawford Challenge
Fresh off his dominant victory over Errol Spence Jr. to become undisputed welterweight champion, Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) is now eyeing an even more ambitious target - moving up three weight classes to challenge Alvarez for super middleweight supremacy.
Making Boxing History
"I want Canelo," Crawford declared in a recent interview. "I've been telling everybody this is the fight I want. I want to go up to 168 pounds and challenge myself against the best."
The potential matchup would see Crawford attempt to become a three-weight undisputed champion - an unprecedented achievement in the four-belt era of boxing.
Canelo's Response
While Alvarez hasn't directly addressed Crawford's challenge, the Mexican icon has previously stated he's open to fighting anyone who presents an interesting challenge. However, some boxing pundits question whether the size difference might be too significant, with Crawford naturally competing at 147lbs compared to Canelo's recent fights at 168lbs.
Promotional Hurdles
The fight would also need to overcome boxing's promotional divide, with Crawford aligned with Premier Boxing Champions and Alvarez working with Matchroom and PBC rival Eddie Hearn. Nevertheless, the potential financial rewards could make this a fight too lucrative to ignore.
Boxing World Divided
Reaction from the boxing community has been mixed:
- Supporters argue Crawford's technical brilliance could trouble Alvarez
- Skeptics believe the size difference would be insurmountable
- Neutrals simply want to see two elite fighters test themselves
One thing is certain - if this fight gets made, it would be one of the most anticipated boxing events of 2024.
