Trainer Robert Garcia says Canelo Alvarez will fight Terence Crawford in May 2025. However, he doesn’t see Crawford winning because he’s getting older and Canelo is naturally stronger than him.
He also packs a good punch and has been beaten by stronger punchers than Crawford, who looked weak in his debut at 154 against Israil Madrimov on August 3.
Crawford’s Age and Decline
Robert says Crawford is not fighting WBC interim 154-pound champion Virgil Ortiz Jr. It just feels like the 37-year-old Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) is getting old and wants to get the biggest money possible before he retires soon.
Garcia says Crawford could make three times more money fighting Canelo (62-2-2, 39 KOs) than he would against Virgil Jr. , the match can be made.
Since Terrence would debut at 168 and move up two weight classes, it would be impossible to see a scenario where he could win. It would be a struggle on a business level.
A celebrity match
When you get a fighter as old as Crawford, who didn’t look good in his debut at 154, moving up two weight classes to 168, it’s not a serious fight. It’s a celebrity race.
To be serious, Crawford would have to make it to 168 and prove himself against the top contenders. If he can make it through three or four tough fights, then he could face Canelo.
Terence’s Path to Legitimacy
Put Crawford with these three to allow him to show that he is worthy of fighting King Canelo:
- David Benavidez
- David Morrell
- Owsley Iglesias
He is not interested in proving himself with even one fight at 168; this just shows you what he wants. It’s the money and NOT the inheritance. This is a joke. This has nothing to do with Crawford’s purpose.
If this were the real world, Crawford would have to move up to 168 and gain the necessary experience to prove he’s fit for the position and deserves it.
Terence doesn’t have to do that here, and the ones who will lose out are the fans because Canelo will trash him or make it very, very boring like Jermell Charlo did when he moved up from 154 in 2023 to challenge Canelo. Jermell is bigger, faster and stronger than Crawford.
He couldn’t do anything to Canelo and was forced to run to save his skin. The match went unnoticed, but Charlo got his big payday and hasn’t been seen in the ring since. It was a cash out for him and the fans got a poor product for the money they paid to see the match on PPV.
Financial incentives
“We would take the match immediately. It’s not an easy fight. Crawford is a great fighter, pound-for-pound #1, #2 or #3,” Robert Garcia told Fighthype when asked about his interest in a fight between Virgil Ortiz Jr. and Terence Crawford.
“He is already 37 and looking for the biggest pay. I think he’s looking at a fight against Canelo where he would triple the money he could make against Vergil,” Robert said of Crawford. “Well, he plays it smart. I don’t blame him. He is already 37 and looking at the best fights out there for him financially.
“What I’m hearing is (Canelo-Crawford) could happen by May. I think Crawford is one of the best fighters out there, but he’s up there in age. We won’t know until he fights again. There is that possibility. It happens in boxing,” Garcia said of fighters who age overnight, especially as they approach their 30s, like Crawford.
Terence is getting older and approaching 38. He looked horrible in his last fight against Madrymov at 154, and will likely be destroyed in a rematch or if he takes on the type of division, IBF junior middleweight champion Bakhram Muratazaliev. This guy is fighting at a higher level than Canelo now and has more power. What he would do to Crawford with his left hook would not be pretty.
“I choose Canelo. He’s bigger, stronger (and younger than Crawford). Canelo can take a very good punch. I see Crawford putting up a good fight. Cnaleo is bigger physically, stronger,” Garcia said.
