Terence Crawford has made no secret of the fact that he wants to jump up three divisions to challenge for Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez’ undisputed super-middleweight title.
Despite only having just secured all the belts at 147, ‘Bud’ has urged Canelo to welcome him to 168 for a mega-fight.
Speaking on Pro Box TV, Paulie Malignaggi said he believes it’s a step too far for the Omaha man.
“I think pound-for-pound he’s better, he’s overall more skilled, but I think Canelo is too big. He’s too big. If I’m wrong it wouldn’t be the first time I’m wrong about Crawford, I thought Jeff horn might’ve been too big cause he’s a physical 154 pounder, and I thought Crawford being an ex-lightweight he may not be able to hang, even thought he’s more skilled, with the physicality of Horn. I was wrong there. Now you’re asking me to jump again a couple more weight classes. If I went into the Horn fight thinking Crawford isn’t big enough, okay I was wrong there, we’re dealing with two more weight classes now.”
Malignaggi then said he’d rather see Crawford in other match-ups – presumably at super-welterweight or even middle – and said any fan pushing for the fight was a ‘casual.’
“I don’t know. I think it’s too much. Too much of a weight jump. I think it would definitely reel in all the casual idiots and they’s probably make it a bigger fight than it needs to be, but I’d rather see Crawford in more interesting match-ups from a boxing perspective. I don’t think Crawford and Canelo is interesting from a boxing perspective, I think it’s interesting from an idiot casual perspective.”
Neither man has announced his next fight. Crawford, although contracted for a rematch, hinted recently that his rivalry with Errol Spence Jr was over. Canelo is heavily rumoured to be facing Jermall Charlo next after beating his brother Jermell in September of last year.