The build-up to Canelo Alvarez‘s monumental showdown with Terence Crawford is well under way.
It was confirmed earlier this month that the pound-for-pound stars will do battle on Saturday September 13 at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Canelo is set to make the first defence of his undisputed super-middleweight championship against ‘Bud’, just a few months on from achieving this feat for the second time in his career after he dethroned for IBF champion William Scull on May 2.
The modern greats are over halfway through a global press tour, which began in Riyadh last week and was followed by a press conference in New York City on Sunday, which ended with Canelo shoving Crawford during what was an intense face-off.
Speaking on The G.O.A.T.S Podcast, Canelo initially gave plaudits to ‘Bud’ Crawford who he claims is a ‘great fighter’, before going on to criticise the 37-year-old’s resume as he questions whether the unbeaten American has fought just ‘one elite fighter’ during his career.
“Don’t get me wrong okay, he’s a good fighter, a great fighter, I always said before I see him calling me out and wanting the fight and everything, I said before he is a great fighter but if you look at his career just mention me one elite fighter.”
The Mexican superstar then responded to claims made by Crawford that Viktor Postol and Ricky Burns are at least two ‘elite’ fighters that he has faced.
“Who? Who’s that guy? A 40-year-old champion in that moment beat Mr. Postol in my gym, I saw that. Ricky Burns? He’s not elite. There is champions, good fighters, but elite fighters are different, way different.”
Despite Canelo’s claims, Crawford could cement himself as one of the greatest fighters of all time with a victory over the Mexican superstar in September, as he sets his sights on becoming a three-weight undisputed champion in the process.
