Terence Crawford has never been one to chase cheers, and Tuesday’s grand arrivals at the Fontainebleau only reinforced that mindset. Greeted with a chorus of boos, the Omaha native simply shrugged it off, saying, “It’s cool. I don’t come to Vegas to have fun.”
On Saturday, Crawford faces the biggest challenge of his career, stepping up to 168lbs to take on undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez at Allegiant Stadium. The weight jump isn’t the only gap he’ll have to close - Canelo’s legions of Mexican fans made their presence known, leaving Crawford firmly in enemy territory.
For Crawford’s longtime trainer Brian “BoMac” McIntyre, the hostile atmosphere is nothing new. “I’m very confident. I’m confident we’re going to get the job done,” he said. McIntyre recalled how Crawford once interrupted training to declare he would “mess up” Errol Spence Jr., a vow he emphatically fulfilled in 2023. Now, after 13 months away from the ring, Crawford, 41-0 (31 KOs), is aiming to spoil Canelo’s Mexican Independence Day weekend showcase.
Can Terence do the impossible: Watch
Canelo did his part to rally the crowd, declaring the bout “the biggest fight I’ve ever participated in” and roaring “Viva Mexico!” to raucous cheers. The 35-year-old will look to leverage his size advantage and bounce back from a muted performance against William Scull earlier this year.
But for Crawford, the jeers are just more fuel for his fire. “He’s definitely got that dog in him,” McIntyre said of his fighter. “It’s not coached. You’re born with that.” On Saturday night, Crawford will try to prove that grit is what crowns champions.