Terence Crawford says his advantage in speed and reach could prove crucial after once again calling for a fight with Canelo Alvarez.
Crawford was ringside at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas to witness Canelo defend his unified super middleweight titles, defeating Edgar Berlanga en route to a unanimous decision victory.
The 36-year-old, who won the WBA super welterweight title in August with a win over Israil Madrimov, would have to move up two weight classes to challenge the Mexican legend.
While he admitted he would give up size to face Alvarez, “Bud” insists it would be nothing up-to-date for him.
“I understand that Canelo is bigger than me,” Crawford said Sports TMZ.
“But I’m up for the challenge.
“His punching power and size are the only things I have to worry about, but who knows?
“When we get in the ring, we don’t know how I’ll handle his punching power and size.
“I’ve been fighting bigger guys my whole life, so I’m pretty familiar with this aspect.
“Canelo and I are the same height.
“I have a longer reach than Canelo, I’m faster than Canelo, but Canelo is bigger than me, stronger than me.
“We both give something, but we also gain something.”
When asked what the fight would be like, he added: “Of course I’ll beat him.
“I have no doubt that I will not beat anyone I step into the ring with.”
After the fight, the Omaha native went to the Sphere to watch UFC 306 and sat down next to Saudi Arabia’s boxing chief, Turki Alalshikh.
Alalshikh invited Alvarez to meet with Crawford before his fight with Berlanga, but the Mexican said he would not hold any talks until after the fight.
Canelo didn’t get drawn into discussion of a showdown with Crawford at the post-fight press conference, but given his apparent lack of interest in his highly anticipated clash with David Benavidez, a meeting with “Bud” could be his most lucrative option.
David Benavidez has reignited the war of words between himself and longtime rival Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.
Although a fight has not yet taken place between the two, Benavidez and Canelo have launched numerous verbal attacks on each other, mainly when the former fought in the super middleweight division.
After “The Mexican Monster” moved up to delicate heavyweight, things went tranquil between the pair for a while – but that has now changed.
Many in the sport believe that Alvarez is shying away from fighting his younger, bigger opponent, even though it is arguably the most financially lucrative fight for him.
And when Benavidez showed up The hustle and bustle of Miami this week he went on an X-rated tirade against the four-weight world champion.
“Honestly, I think Canelo is f*ckin’ f–king! This is just my opinion.
If we ever fight, this man will make well over $100 million.
“He says I have nothing to offer, that I’m a nobody and I need more experience.
“But if you’re going to make $100 million fighting someone who has no experience and all the crap they’re saying about me, why don’t you come in and get the large bucks?
“I’m not afraid of anyone!” I accept challenges. So Canelo and his fans say I bring nothing to the table – everyone is afraid, just like he is afraid.
“If he wants to prove that I’m not shit, come and prove it to everyone. It’s that plain.”
Unfortunately for Benavidez, it looks like the Alvarez fight will never happen as the Guadalajara fighter enters the twilight of his career.
Unified super middleweight champion “Canelo” has not boxed since his September win over Edgar Berlanga, although reports suggest he has agreed terms for a thrilling fight with pound-for-pound star Terence Crawford in September.
As for Benavidez, he will face the toughest test of his career on February 1, when he will lose his job faces the outstanding Cuban amateur David Morrell Jr for the “regular” and interim WBA delicate heavyweight world titles.
Daniel Dubois believes that Tyson Fury will return to the ring and claims that a fight between them may happen.
Fury ended hopes of All-British fights against the likes of Dubois and long-time rival Anthony Joshua after retiring last Monday, less than a month after his second successive defeat to Oleksandr Usyk.
However, “Dynamite” believes that his compatriot will return in a similar mood as when he retired in April 2022, only to return seven months later.
If the “Gypsy King” ends his final retirement, Dubois insists the fight with Joshua must happen, which has opened the door for him to face the winner.
“I think he will definitely come back,” said the 27-year-old talkSPORT.
“He’s always done that throughout his career, mind games and all that.
“So I think he will come back. He plays various characters. He will definitely come back.
“Get them in the ring [Joshua and Fury].
“I want to see them fight now.
“I punched Joshua so he had to fight Fury.
“I want to see what’s left between these two.
“And then maybe I’ll fight the winner.”
The Londoner knocked out “AJ” five rounds in September at Wembley Stadium and on February 22 in Riyad, he will defend the IBF world heavyweight title against Joseph Parker.
Dubois stormed the ring after Usyk’s rematch victory over Fury, calling for a rematch from their August 2023 clash.
The Londoner’s argument for wanting a rematch is based on a controversial low blow in the fifth round of the fight against the Ukrainian, which he believed was a legal shot.
Eddie Hearn believes Tyson Fury will retire after a legacy-defining clash with Anthony Joshua.
Fury stunned the boxing world on Monday when he announced his retirement from the sport, leaving behind a megafight with Joshua.
The “Gypsy King” announced his shocking decision less than a month after suffering, among other things, second defeat in a row against Oleksandr Usyk in Riyad, but Joshua’s promoter, Hearn, is convinced that the fighter from Morecambe will return to the ring to fight the long-awaited showdown with “AJ”, who is returning after a fifth-round defeat to Daniel Dubois.
“In my opinion, I think he will come back,” the 45-year-old said talkSPORT.
“But I don’t know him well enough to judge that.
“He’s coming back after two defeats, and these defeats hurt the boys.
“AJ was devastated by the defeat to Dubois and I’m sure Fury was too [with his defeats to Usyk]both are winners.
“I don’t know if Fury can leave one of the biggest fights in the history of the sport on the table.
“I know he’s a competitor. I know he will want to give the British fight fans what they want and I hope we see more of him.
“But if we don’t, God bless the speed and all the best.”
Fury hung up his gloves after defeating Dillian Whyte in April 2022, only to return eight months later for a third fight with Derek Chisora, whom he defeated comfortably at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Hearn said Joshua will now look to secure a clash with the winner of the February 22 fight between his former rivals Dubois and Joseph Parker, who will fight in Riyad for the IBF heavyweight world title.
If Fury returns to fight AJ, the Matchroom boss insists the loser would have nowhere to go.
“They would both be devastated by defeat,” he added.
“It’s one thing to lose the world heavyweight title, but at the same time losing in a fight of this magnitude is the biggest bragging rights.
“At this stage of their career, the last word is goodbye.
“Whoever loses this fight is finished and whoever wins it moves on and that’s what you fight for.
“You’re not just fighting for a legacy, you’re fighting to save your career.
“It’s a huge fight, but it’s not on the table right now.”
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