Terence Crawford wants to make the move from super-welter to super-middleweight to face Mexico’s Saul ‘Canelo‘ Alvarez.
The American recently made his debut at 154 pounds and became champion in a fourth division – a feat Canelo has achieved as well.
Now, he says the only fight that interests him in the sport is against the current unified 168 champion.
One man well-versed in packing on the pounds to face Alvarez is Amir Khan, who made the move from 147 to a catchweight of 155 in 2016 for the challenge.
After a fast and impressive start, the Brit was knocked out spectacularly in the sixth round.
Speaking to Fastest Pay Out Casinos, Khan said he ‘was never the same.’
“It’s a very dangerous fight for Crawford, you’re only one punch away from getting hurt, Canelo’s power is always going to be there. Crawford has earned good money, he has a beautiful family, why risk it? You’re only one punch away from getting hurt, and he doesn’t really need the money or the fame. He’s pound for pound the best fighter in the world.
I was never the same fighter again facing Canelo. You can get knocked down, fine, you can get back up again, but the knockout Canelo gave me, it probably took five years off my life.
I was at the peak of my career and never came back as the same fighter again. I wasn’t gun shy or scared, but that one shot, it wasn’t good for the body or the mind. And it changed my opponent’s strategy for fighting me, they all started to try to land that one big shot.”
Back down at welterweight, Khan would challenge for ‘Bud’ Crawford’s WBO Welterweight World Title three years later, again being stopped in round six.
Despite warnings like the above, Crawford remains undeterred and there is a feeling amongst some in the sport that he may even retire if he can’t land the fight against Canelo.
