According to Coach Bernie Tha Boxer, Terence “Bud” Crawford will move up to super middleweight to face unified champion Canelo Alvarez on September 13. Bernie insists Crawford deserves this shot based on his four-division world titles and two-time undisputed status, dismissing calls for “Bud” to prove himself first at 168.
Crawford, 38, has never fought above 154, and skeptics question whether he can handle Canelo’s size and power. Critics also note that Crawford achieved some of his previous world titles by defeating fighters viewed as less threatening, likening his run to Adrien Broner’s path of collecting belts without consistently facing elite competition. Still, Bernie believes Crawford’s accomplishments - undisputed crowns at 140 and 147 - speak for themselves.
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Should this blockbuster event indeed land on September 13, Canelo is expected to carry the pay-per-view financially. Crawford, who last fought Israil Madrimov at 154, hasn’t proven himself a major box-office draw. Nonetheless, Team Crawford sees this as their long-awaited “mega-fight,” touting it as a David vs. Goliath battle in which size won’t deter the pound-for-pound star from challenging one of boxing’s biggest names.
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Image Credit: WBC