Timothy Bradley says he learned everything he needed to know about Terence Crawford in his first sparring session – long before most boxing fans even knew who Crawford was.

Bradley recalled the experience, reflecting on Crawford’s mentality and his ability to handle pressure in any situation, describing a juvenile fighter who arrived all by himself and immediately began picking a world champion.

“Let’s go back to 2011 when I first sparred with him,” Bradley explained to ESPN.

“Get this. He got off the plane, his brother-in-law picked him up, he went to the gym. Don’t go to his hotel, rest, no. You took him to the gym, you got off, his bag was still in the car, I put the hooks on.

“No one with him. Think about it, no one with him.”

“He comes into the ring, says hello, in the corner, alone. I had the whole team around me.”

At that time, Bradley was already a two-time world champion, and Crawford was still years away from becoming one of boxing’s pound-for-pound stars.

“And I’m a two-time world champion, think about it,” Bradley continued.

“Nobody gives him any instructions. He comes in there and tears me to pieces.”

Timothy Bradley on Terence Crawford

Bradley explained that what happened the next day convinced him that Crawford had a mentality that few players have.

“And then what? OK, the next day, fine, we’ll spar again. Completely different fighter. No one in the corner again,” Bradley added.

“This guy can mentally handle anything, he can handle any situation.”

The storyline offers a revealing look at Crawford long before his championships, pound-for-pound rankings and superstar reputation.

According to Bradley, the qualities that define Crawford today were obvious even then.

Everything Bradley described about Crawford back then still sounds familiar.

Crawford walked into the hall of champions himself and acted like he already belonged there.

Crawford’s mentality

History shows that Crawford was always himself and had complete confidence in his ability to support himself.

Even as a juvenile fighter just starting his career, walking into a champion’s gym in unfamiliar surroundings and setting it up for Timothy Bradley says a lot about Crawford’s mentality.

Very few players would put themselves in this situation and believe that this is where they belong.

Years later, with Crawford now considered one of the greatest fighters of his generation, Bradley’s story seems less surprising and more an early warning sign of what boxing would ultimately experience.

About the author

Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Read the full biography.

The teams behind last year’s blockbuster clash between Terence Crawford and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez will go head-to-head again next weekend in Egypt.

Brian “BoMac” McIntyre trained Crawford from his debut until his retirement, and the same can be said for Eddy Reynoso and Canelo when the Mexican decides to hang up the gloves. The two camps went head to head in the biggest fight of 2025, and the Americans emerged victorious, crowning Crawford the undisputed super middleweight champion and handing Alvarez only his third defeat in 68 fights.

This coming weekend at the Pyramids of Giza, “BoMac” and Reynoso will once again be in opposite corners as heavyweights Richard Torrez Jr and Frank Sanchez fight in the IBF final eliminator for a chance to fight champion Oleksandr Usyk, who fights kickboxer Rico Verhoeven in the main event.

Unlike Sanchez, who has been with Reynoso for several years beyond his 2022 absence, Torrez only recently started working with McIntyre at B&B Sports Academy in Omaha.

The respected trainer, who also counts Lester Martinez in his stable and who previously trained Keyshawn Davis, said Top position that he has been impressed so far and expects his up-to-date heavyweight protege to shine this weekend.

“Frank Sanchez is a great player. He has a great team behind him, a great coach. I know for a fact that with Eddye Reynoso, these guys are ready. I wouldn’t accept anything less, and [inactivity] it doesn’t matter to him.

“It’s going to be a tough fight for the first few rounds because the guys will feel each other, try each other’s strength, but the will and determination will fade. And I know one thing – Frank failed. He was stopped. So he knows how to lose. Undefeated, Richard’s silver medalist. The kid hasn’t lost in a dozen years. I’m just looking for him to go out there, do his thing and win for sure.”

After his amateur success with the U.S. national team, Torrez, at the age of 26, established a professional record of 14-0, scoring 12 knockouts and boasting his biggest victory over Guido Vianello. Cuban Sanchez (25-1 (18 KO) lost to Agit Kabayel in 2024, which somewhat dimmed his dreams of a world title, but now he is one step away from achieving it again.

Considering that Usyk-Verhoeven is more of a spectacle than high-level boxing, their clash may turn out to be the most intriguing heavyweight fight in the world. an event that also includes Jack vs. Shakhram Giyasov for the WBA Regular welterweight belt and Hamzeh Sheeraz vs. Al Begic for the vacant WBO super middleweight title previously held by Canelo and Crawford.

By Boxing Insider Staff

Canelo Álvarez will return to the ring on September 12 in Riyad to face WBC super middleweight champion Christian Mbilli, His Excellency Turki Alalshikh announced from London on Saturday.

Until the fight, it will have been a year since Álvarez faced Terence Crawford in Las Vegas. According to data released by the organization, the event attracted over 41 million viewers on Netflix, making it one of the most watched boxing broadcasts in history.

Álvarez, the former undisputed super middleweight champion, returns to Saudi Arabia with the WBC title in his sights. The Mexican made nine successful saves during a reign at the top of the league that lasted almost five years before losing the undisputed crown to Crawford last September.

Mbilli’s path to the WBC title

Mbilli will enter the fight as the current WBC champion. The Montreal-based French-Cameroonian won the interim title with a win over Maciej Sulecki in June and was promoted to full champion in January. He remains undefeated and previously appeared on the Álvarez vs. card. Crawford during the Riyad season.

“My last fight was the fight of the year,” Mbilli said in a statement released by the promotion. “In September against Canelo Alvarez, it will be the fight of the decade. And when the fight is over, the world will witness my historic victory.

Canelo in the match

Álvarez, who will turn 36 in July, addressed the decision in a statement.

“After so many years in this sport, my motivation is still the same: to challenge myself, represent Mexico and continue to build my legacy,” Álvarez said. “Mbilli is undefeated and he is a great fighter and I respect that. But my focus is always on preparation, performance and giving the fans another great night of boxing. On September 12 in Riyad, we start a modern chapter with the same discipline, ambition and vision that has accompanied me throughout my career.”

Press conference for Cairo

The press conference is scheduled for Saturday, May 23 at 2:00 p.m. local time in Cairo. This will be the first confrontation between both players.

The card is a continuation of the season’s boxing program in Riyad, overseen by Alalshikh, whose list of events supported by Saudi Arabia over the last two years, it has changed the calendar of sporting events. Riyad season organizers recorded more than 17 million visitors for the 2025 edition, following the 2024 edition which exceeded 20 million.

Broadcast details, ticket information and undercard fights for the September 12 event have not yet been announced.