Former world champion Timothy Bradley has reacted to talk of undisputed welterweight king Terrence Crawford potentially stepping into the ring with Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez but says it’s a ‘scary’ proposition.
Canelo is coming off an impressive if not comparatively straightforward win over Jermell Charlo. Charlo stepped up two weight divisions off the back of a long layoff and did little to trouble Canelo. He was knocked down in the 7th round and lost a lopsided points decision.
In the aftermath, talk turned to what Canelo might do next. Although the man himself said Crawford is not in his plans, that hasn’t stopped people fantasising about the fight.
Speaking to FightHype, Bradley said he thinks Canelo can be outboxed before worrying about the size difference between the two men.
“It’s tough. We know Canelo can be outboxed. Or at least I know he can be outboxed, but the size difference is what’s scary about that fight.”
Despite the worries, Bradley still said he saw a way Crawford could get to the Mexican.
“If Crawford can hurt him or stop him from coming forward, and Crawford is great at dealing with high guards, he knows how to come around it and underneath it. He knows how to set traps for his opponent. And I think he’d be able to lay a lot of traps for Canelo.”
Though highly impressed with Crawford’s ability, Bradley ultimately thinks the weight difference would be too large.
“I think he’d give him a lot more problems than Charlo because of the mentality. He would come to win. But I just wonder one, can he take Canelo’s punch and stay away from Canelo’s punch, and absorb the punishment he’d have to go through ’cause Canelo will close the distance and pound on him. Crawford has the skills but again the size, man, and weight classes are there for a reason.”
Though on paper it is a superb fantasy match-up, the reality is that the size difference between the two men makes it an unlikely fight to be made.