The potential showdown between Terence Crawford and Canelo Álvarez in September in Las Vegas has got the boxing fans hooked. The reason, you ask? It’s because of the contrasting styles, ring IQs, and different weight classes. As anticipation for the match grows, opinions on the potential winner remain divided. And now, Jose Benavidez, the older brother of the WBC Interim Light Heavyweight, David Benavidez, has added his voice to the conversation.
The 32-year-old once faced Terence Crawford in a brutal knockout loss for the WBO welterweight title in 2018. Having seen Bud Crawford up close, he knows exactly what the 41-0, 31 KO boxer brings to the table. However, Jose Benavidez seems to have more reasons for making his prediction. He recalled how his younger brother never got the opportunity to fight Canelo, preventing him from showcasing his skills. Now that a potential showdown between Terence Crawford and Canelo Álvarez is on the horizon, Jose has already chosen his side. What did he say? Let’s find out.
Jose Benavidez thinks Terence Crawford is a beast
Jose Benavidez was recently seen in a press conference for the David Morrell vs. David Benavidez fight. In an interview with Fight Hub TV, he was asked about how the fight would unfold. And Jose Benavidez didn’t hold back and confidently stated, “I mean, like I said, Crawford. Crawford’s a fu***ng beast. He’s smart. He knows what he’s doing.”
While talking about the opponent, he acknowledged that while Canelo is the naturally bigger fighter, size alone doesn’t determine the outcome of a fight. He added, “Canelo, you know, I mean, he’s not that big of a guy. Obviously, he weighs more. But I mean, you can’t take nothing from Crawford. He goes in there and wins.”
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Meanwhile, he also expressed disappointment for his younger brother. “You know it s**ks that my brother didn’t get that opportunity. Only Canelo knows why that didn’t happen. And he’s gotta keep moving forward, you know,” he lamented. As the interim super middleweight champion, Benavidez was Canelo Álvarez’s mandatory challenger. However, Canelo reportedly demanded an extremely high price for the fight. With no progress, Benavidez moved up a division and defeated Oleksandr Gvozdyk to win the interim light heavyweight title.
Moving forward, when pressed further about Terence Crawford’s fighting intelligence, Jose didn’t mince words. “The thing with him is he’s just a smart motherf***er, you know,” Benavidez said. He also highlighted Crawford’s ability to switch between southpaw and orthodox stances, making him unpredictable and dangerous. He further added that many fighters who faced the Mexican champion seem intimidated before the fight even begins, but he believes Crawford won’t have that mindset. “So Crawford is going there to win, he’s not going in there to fu***ng lose,” he predicted.
Though Benavidez believes in Crawford’s abilities, other analysts and boxers hold different opinions.
The divide: Will weight or skill win the day?
Mexican boxing legend Julio César Chávez has recently placed his bets on Canelo. He predicted a knockout in six or seven rounds. While Chávez acknowledges Terence Crawford’s skills, he is adamant that the 13-pound weight difference between the fighters will prove insurmountable. “Crawford is a good fighter but there’s weight classes,” the three-weight world champion explained.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 20: WBO champion Terence Crawford waits for the start of a welterweight title fight against Shawn Porter at Michelob ULTRA Arena on November 20, 2021, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Steve Marcus/Getty Images)
In contrast, others like Jake Paul and Oleksandr Usyk have thrown their support behind Terence Crawford. ‘The Problem Child,’ speaking on the Ring Champs podcast, argued that Crawford’s versatility will give him an edge. Furthermore, he thinks “that Terrence has the skill and is a bit fresher than Canelo. If I had to put my money on it, I would probably go with Terence.”
Oleksandr Usyk, on the other hand, echoed similar sentiments. On The 3 Knockdown Rule podcast, the undefeated heavyweight champion praised Bud Crawford. “I like Terrence; it’s …my friend, but it’s crazy man. Listen, I… I say Terence win yes, …Terence win, but listen, Terence, it’s different, man. Terence work in two… two sides—right and left, but it’s very smart, man. It’s very, very very smart, but feel, distance, and the place…,” Usyk stated.
With both fighters at the top of their game, the predictions remain split. What is certain is that this fight will be one for the ages. Can Terence Crawford defy the odds and become the first to defeat Canelo in his prime? Do share your thoughts below!
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