Terence Crawford is the most celebrated boxer of 2023 following an undisputed welterweight win.
That stoppage of rival Errol Spence Jr was delivered in such emphatic fashion that the Omaha puncher shot to the top of pound for pound lists across the sport.
He decided to continue to chase greatness post-fight by calling out none other than Saul ‘Canelo’ Álvarez, also undisputed, just three divisions higher.
The unprecedented weight jump got people talking, but Canelo, whilst not totally ruling it out, said he had other plans and wouldn’t get the credit for a win against a smaller man.
Speaking to the media recently, Crawford was asked if the fight was out of his head given the Mexican’s apparent disinterest.
“Not at all. I think business talks. When the right business comes across the table it’ll happen.”
‘Bud’ then said he initially floated the idea as ‘just talk’, but now legitimately thinks he can get the win.
“I just be talking, you know what I mean? Canelo’s a big dude. But at the same time I still believe in my abilities. He’s a heavy dude but he’s not a big guy. He’s 5′ 8″, I’m 5′ 8″. My arms longer than his. That fight would be good.”
Asked how he would avoid the power punches, he said it was more about a belief in being able to handle them.
“You’re gonna get hit in a fight, that’s one thing we all know, and I believe in myself and my abilities that I can handle anything a fighter throws at me. I gotta be able to believe in myself if I’m gonna get in the ring … I wouldn’t even entertain a fight if it would be where I couldn’t hold up … like Deontay Wilder or something like that.”