Terence Crawford is gearing up for the biggest challenge of his career when he faces Canelo Alvarez in September.
Crawford will move up two weight classes to meet Canelo in a super middleweight showdown, provided the Mexican great defeats William Scull on May 3 in Saudi Arabia.
Alvarez, the unified WBA ‘super’, WBC and WBO 168 pound champion, has only lost twice to Floyd Mayweather Jr and Dmitry Bivol, but Crawford believes not only is he capable of beating him, he could become the first man to halt him.
“I don’t got to stop him,” the 37-year-old told Manouk Akopyan.
“I just got to beat him.
“I’m not going in there looking to knock Canelo out.
“Could it happen? Yes absolutely.
“When I look at Canelo, he’s a smaller, bigger guy moving up in divisions.
“Being that these big guys are slower. So they might catch him with something, but he might see it at the last moment.
“They might catch him with a hard shot, but he’s able to roll and turn with it, because he’s coming from a smaller weight class that was faster, that was sharper.
“I’m coming from a smaller weight class that’s faster and sharper.
“So if he gets hit with a sharp punch that he doesn’t see, he’s definitely capable of getting hurt.
“He’s not a machine, he’s human just like me.”
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Should Alvarez overcome IBF titlist, Scull, the 34-year-old will become a two-time undisputed super middleweight champion.
Crawford, who is not expected to fight prior to a proposed meeting with the Guadalajara native, would have been out the ring over a year since his win over Israil Madrimov last August.
The Omaha man believes he will be considered as a one of the top three best fighters of all-time with victory over Alvarez.
“When I beat Canelo Alvarez, I think I’ll be top three pound-for-pound best fighters ever,” he added.
“I think Canelo is up there with the all-time greats too.
“I already look at myself as an all-time great, but to move up essentially three weight classes and dethrone a soon to be undisputed 168lb champion.
“Without even stepping foot in that weight class or the weight class below is like some Harry Armstrong stuff.
“It’s going to be amazing.
“They always say, you never see a great small guy beat a great big guy and I want to change that narrative.”
