Teofimo Lopez has had his say on the potential match-up between Terence Crawford and Saul ‘Canelo‘ Alvarez.
Crawford last competed at super-welterweight and would have to jump up a further two divisions to challenge Canelo, who has reigned supreme at super-middleweight for years now.
The Mexican has made it clear he is open to hearing offers. As the fight becomes more realistic, many in the sport are starting to come around to the idea that Crawford’s skillset can bridge that gap enough for him pull off a historic upset win.
That doesn’t include two-weight world champion Lopez, who told Sean Zittel that he has and always will pick the bigger man.
“I still think Canelo wins.”
Asked to elaborate, Lopez pointed to Canelo’s size, experience and power as the winning factors in the match-up.
“We can have the skills and everything, but jumping that much, getting hit… I don’t think Crawford’s ever fought a fighter that’s hit him directly, straight, constantly in the arms. And it’s not because they can’t, they don’t think that way. Remember, this man [Canelo] has been pro since what, 15?”
Lopez is gunning for Crawford himself, willing to leave the super-lightweight ranks and make his own jump up. Crawford has largely dismissed the call out.
Some in the sport believe that retirement could be around the corner for the 37-year-old American if Canelo – who has said he will look to negotiate his next opponent in January – turns the fight offer down. However, Crawford himself has said he is more likely to stick around.
