Crawford Could Retire If He Beats Canelo
Brian McIntyre, Terence Crawford’s trainer, says his fighter could retire if he beats Canelo Alvarez as talks over a fight grows.
Bud is already a two-weight undisputed champion, making him a future Hall of Famer. In his last fight, he stopped Errol Spence Jr. to become the first Undisputed Welterweight Champion of the four-belt era. He has been linked with a fight with Canelo for his Undisputed Super Middleweight Title. Alvarez initially dismissed the fight, saying he would get no credit for beating a much smaller man.
However, reports have indicated that the Saudis want to make the fight happen. But Crawford must beat Israil Madrimov next in his first fight at 154 pounds. A win makes him the new WBA Junior Middleweight Champion and a four-division champion. While moving from 154 to 168 is risky, Bomac has backed his fighter to beat Canelo, which could see Bud retire.
Crawford vs. Canelo
“Bud has got it in him [to defeat Canelo]. I can see him doing it. Is it a challenge for him? Of course. Is it a challenge for the whole team? Of course, but that’s what we’re in the business for, being great. I know that Bud has the tools to beat him. If Bud beats Canelo, we may damn near retire, if you beat the pound-for-pound king…My mind is on Madrimov,” Bomac said
One factor that is key to making that fight is Canelo. The Mexican has been ordered by the IBF to face his mandatory William Scull. A deal has been agreed to avoid purse bids, but reports indicate it could be a step-aside agreement. If that is the case, Edgar Berlanga is seen as the leading name for a fight in September on Mexican Independence Day. After that, the pressure on Canelo to fight David Benavidez will increase. The Mexican is reluctant to do that, claiming he wants $200 million for the fight.
Will It Happen?
That is seen as a way to price himself out. But facing Crawford could be a compromise and a way to alleviate fans. But history has shown that Canelo dominates fighters moving up. Jermell Charlo was undisputed at 154 pounds. He decided to jump up two weight classes to take on Canelo. However, it was a one-sided fight as Alvarez dominated the fight to win a unanimous decision.
Oleksandr Usyk has shown that size and weight do not matter. He was around 40 pounds lighter and had a seven-inch reach disadvantage when he boxed Tyson Fury. However, the Ukrainian dominated large parts of the fight event if the scorecards only gave it as a split decision win. However, former Undisputed Heavyweight Champion Mike Tyson has cautioned Crawford about talking this fight.
“He can do what he wants, but I don’t think it’s a good idea. What would he have [at the weight]? I don’t know. I just don’t think it’s a good idea. People have done things crazy like that before, it’s just that he doesn’t have to do it,” Tyson stated
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