Tim Bradley believes Crawford would defeat Canelo

Can a boxer go up three weight classes and defeat one of the greatest fighters in recent history? While it seems pretty unlikely, the former two-class world champion and boxing commentator Tim Bradley believes it’s possible, when asked about the potential super clash between Terence Crawford and Saúl Álvarez.

Canelo defended his undisputed super middleweight crown in style against Jermell Charlo last weekend at T-Mobile, Las Vegas, getting a clear unanimous win decision.

The Mexican was the favorite going into the fight against Mell, as he was fighting in his natural weight division and his opponent had to transform his body and was inactive since May 2022.

Although he has been very criticized for his previous performances against Dmitry Bivol, Caleb Plant, Gennady Golovkin, and John Ryder, Álvarez displayed all of his aggressiveness and punching power to knock his rival down and ultimately get his hand raised.

Bradley picks Crawford to beat Canelo

Although Canelo wasn’t able to get the job done via knockout against Charlo, he managed to offer a good image inside the ring in a fight he dominated from the initial bell.

Now, most of fans expect Canelo to face either David Benavidez or Terence Crawford next. Those two are probably the two most-anticipated fights for Álvarez, and while a clash with The Mexican Monster would be hugely accepted by the boxing community, a bout with Crawford would undoubtedly be a great match.

The current pound-for-pound No. 1 would have to go from 147 to 168 lbs to challenge Canelo, but a win for the American would be one of the biggest ones the sport has ever seen and would make him undisputed champion in three weight divisions.

Tim Bradley feels that Bud would get the better of Canelo if he managed to execute the gameplan he used against Errol Spence Jr. in July.

“I think Crawford will be a lot better on the inside than Canelo. Although Canelo is strong, I think that Crawford can be able to maneuver and push him in certain ways and get certain shots off, whereas a guy like Charlo didn’t have that ability” Bradley said to Fighthype.

“If he can go up to 168 and beat that Canelo Alvarez, that’s historical stuff, and I think that Crawford is willing to do it. He’s that crazy. I would back him because I think he’s different, and I know some of you will be like, ‘He’s your friend. You’re going to back him”, he added.

Bradley believes that if Floyd Mayweather Jr. could dismantle Canelo’s strategy in 2013, Crawford could repeat that feat.

“He has the skill set. I’m telling you, he does. No one thought that Floyd [Mayweather Jr.] was going to be able to do it against Canelo. Canelo was a lot bigger. I think he had to be at least 15, 20 pounds heavier than Floyd on the night of the fight”, he concluded.

Canelo will now have to decide who his next opponent will be. Benavidez will fight in November against Demetrius Andrade, while Crawford, who’s 36, will probably want to face Canelo now that he’s still in his prime.