Callum Smith Doubts Crawford Can Handle Canelo’s Size

Callum Smith questions whether Terence Crawford can handle the size of Canelo Alvarez when he moves up two divisions to fight him in September at super middleweight.

If Terence showed some gumption by moving up to fight two or three of the predatory sharks in the 168-lb division, fans would know whether he’s up to it. Since Crawford doesn’t want to do it, all you can think is he’s just there for the payday, and fans will be stomping mad afterward, feeling like they got rooked out of their money.

Crawford is eager for that fight against the Mexican superstar, but he’s done nothing to show whether he can handle the weight jump.

Crawford Too Small?

Light heavyweight Smith, who shared the ring with Canelo (62-2-2, 39 KOs), when he competed at 168, points out that Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) started his career in the lower weights at 135. So, to move up two weight classes from 154 to fight Canelo at 168 is a “tough ask” size-wise.

Smith isn’t entirely counting out the 37-year-old Crawford, noting that Canelo is starting to show signs of age, but he still feels it’s going to be tough for the Nebraska native.

Crawford has not fought at super middleweight, struggled moving up to 154 against Israil Madrimov, and will be coming off a one-year layoff from the ring if the fight with Canelo happens in September. If so, he will have been out of the ring for 13 months.

“That’s a great fight, They’re both pound-for-pound stars and exceptional. It’ll be interesting to see how the weight affects Crawford moving up [to 168],” said Callum Smith to Pro Boxing Fans, talking about the possible Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford in September.

“As we saw with [former undisputed 154-lb champion Jermell] Charlo. He’s a very good fighter, but he couldn’t really cope with him [Canelo]. It’s alright putting weight on, but there’s natural size, and Crawford’s coming up from the lower weights.

“He’s a four-weight world champion. So, to go up another two to go up against the likes of Canelo is going to be a tough ask, but as we saw with [undisputed light heavyweight champion Artur] Beterbiev [in his recent close fight against Dmitry Bivol], Canelo’s not getting any younger.

Spence Win A Fluke

Crawford was at his best at 135 and 140 when he had the size advantage against the less-than-stellar opposition in those weight classes when he fought in them. At 147, Bud was slower and easier to hit, and it took a car crash wrecked, inactive, injury-plagued, and weight-drained Errol Spence to make Crawford look good.

Before that, he hadn’t looked impressive in fights against David Avanesyan, Jose Benavidez Jr., and Jeff Horn at welterweight. He’d looked like an average fighter, better than those low-quality guys, but not like a super talent.

It’s interesting how much attention was paid to Terence’s win over Spence. Fans suddenly thought that he was an entertaining knockout artist and that he’d fought like this throughout his career.

That’s not how Crawford had looked or fought during his career. If fans had watched his entire career, as I had, they would have seen that he was a Shakur-esque mover and counter-puncher, and his knockouts had come against older fighters.

Crawford’s Recent Knockouts

Errol Spence: 34
David Avanesyan: 35
Shawn Porter: 34
Kell Brook: 34
Amir Khan: 34

“He’s had a tough career and had injuries and stuff. As a boxing fan, I’m pleased to see these types of fights happening. Now, as a fan, I sit down and watch it. I’m looking forward to it,” said Smith about the Canelo vs. Crawford fight.

Canelo is slowing down at 34 and isn’t the fighter he was four years ago in 2021 when he captured the undisputed super middleweight championship against Calen Plant. However, he’s much bigger and stronger and is a natural 168-pounder.

He’s also four years younger than Crawford, who turns 38 in September and is coming off a lackluster performance against Israil Madrimov in his debut at 154 on August 3rd, 2024.