Amir Khan Gives Edge to Terence Crawford Ahead of Canelo Alvarez Clash

on
by Butch Belga

Amir Khan Gives Edge to Terence Crawford Ahead of Canelo Alvarez Clash
Boxing star Amir Khan. Photo: Boxing Scene.

As the countdown continues for the blockbuster showdown between Saul “Canelo” Álvarez and Terence “Bud” Crawford on September 13 in Las Vegas, former world champion Amir Khan has weighed in with an interesting perspective. Having shared the ring with both men, Khan believes Crawford may hold the upper hand when the two finally meet.

Khan’s experiences with the pair are still fresh in boxing memory. Back in 2016, he moved up to a 155-pound catchweight to challenge Canelo but was stopped in the sixth round after being caught by the Mexican superstar’s power. Three years later, Khan tested himself against Crawford at welterweight, only to suffer another sixth-round stoppage defeat.

Despite both setbacks, Khan feels he saw enough to form a clear impression of the fighters. “Canelo was easier to hit when I fought him,” Khan recalled. “His footwork wasn’t the quickest, but his hand speed surprised me. The power was always there, and that’s something Crawford has to deal with—the natural size and strength.”

Even so, Khan leans toward Crawford. He pointed out how strong the Omaha native has looked while bulking up, citing a recent photo of Crawford around 180 pounds. “He’s carrying the weight well, still powerful, still sharp. Plus, he’s fresher than Canelo. Canelo’s had so many grueling fights, while Crawford hasn’t taken the same kind of damage.”

Still, Khan tempered his prediction with realism. “This is elite-level boxing. Anything can happen. But if I had to lean one way, it’s Crawford.”

Of course, time is a factor in evaluating Khan’s view. His fight with Canelo was nearly a decade ago, long before the Mexican cemented himself as a full-time super middleweight and even tested the waters at light heavyweight. Meanwhile, his bout with Crawford was six years past, when Bud was still firmly a welterweight.

Crawford is now making a daring leap from 147 pounds to challenge Canelo at 168, skipping over a large chunk of territory in between. It’s a bold gamble that leaves questions about how he’ll handle a naturally bigger opponent.

Most experts still argue that Alvarez’s size and experience at higher weights make him the favorite. Yet, the growing support for Crawford suggests that many believe his skillset could offset the physical disadvantages. On September 13, we’ll finally see if Khan’s instincts were right.