Boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard has offered his final thoughts on the much anticipated ‘super-fight’ between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford.
Pound-for-pound stars Canelo and ‘Bud’ Crawford are just a few days away from doing battle for the undisputed super-middleweight championship at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, with the event broadcast live worldwide on Netflix.
Crawford has set his sights on becoming the first male fighter in boxing history to win an undisputed championship in three separate weight classes, having previously achieved this at super-lightweight and welterweight respectively.
Canelo’s dominance at super-middleweight began almost seven years ago when he blasted out Rocky Fielding inside three rounds. Since then, the Mexican icon has gone on to defeat the likes of Gennady Golovkin, Caleb Plant and Callum Smith amongst others.
There have been many differing opinions on how the bout will unfold, and now five-weight world champion Leonard has given his verdict on the clash.
In an interview with ESNEWS, Leonard sent a brief but meaningful message out to both Canelo and Crawford ahead of their huge showdown this weekend.
“Whoever wants to win will win, you know what I mean? I’m not being funny, whoever wants to win will win.”
Crawford is gearing up for his first ever appearance at 168lbs when he shares the ring with Canelo, with his last fight seeing him move up to 154lbs in August 2024 when he dethroned WBA champion Israil Madrimov. In an interview with Fight Hub TV, Leonard said that the jump was possible but warned him about the difference in power based on his own experience jumping through divisions.
“It’s a big difference. I mean when I fought Donny Lalonde, every time he hit me he hurt me to a degree, not knocking out but he hurt me, put it that way. He can do it, I mean you can do it no question about that.”
Boxing fans around the world are have just days to wait for the monumental clash between two of the biggest, and most talented, names in the sport.
