Crawford Presses Canelo, Believing His Skills Can Secure a Historic Third Undisputed Title

The build-up to Canelo vs. Terence “Bud” Crawford officially escalated this week, igniting fan interest after an intense face-off in New York, where Canelo shoved Crawford during their photo-op.

Tensions had simmered until now. Just days prior, the two fighters were seen dining in Saudi Arabia with His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, who posted the photo that signaled the start of the press run. Their kickoff press conference in the Middle East was largely respectful and went under the radar.

But when the press tour moved to New York, the dynamic shifted. Crawford confronted Álvarez on stage, prompting Canelo to push him away. The incident quickly went viral, with Crawford later posting on Instagram:

The super middleweight showdown is set for September 13 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, and now, the fuse has truly been lit. With Netflix slated to broadcast the bout, the event is positioned to captivate both dedicated boxing enthusiasts and casual fans.

At the heart of the promotion is a legacy-defining challenge: Terence Crawford moving up to 168 pounds from 154 to face one of the sport’s biggest stars. A win would make Crawford a three-division undisputed champion — a feat unmatched in the four-belt era — and further cement his place among the all-time greats.

Boxing purists recognize Crawford’s edge in ring IQ and technical skill. While knocking out Canelo is a tall order — the Mexican star has never been stopped and is known for his durability — Crawford’s style mirrors that of Floyd Mayweather and Dmitry Bivol, the two fighters who outboxed Álvarez in the past.

Whether Canelo can hurt or stop Crawford remains to be seen. At the New York presser, Canelo asked Turki Alalshikh:

Crawford’s response was classic Bud:

While Canelo’s recent wins have all come via unanimous decision, he hasn’t secured a knockout in his last five outings. That hasn’t stopped event organizers from adding extra incentives: a reported knockout bonus has been introduced, raising eyebrows among boxing purists. Critics argue this undermines the sport’s core principle — the art of hitting without being hit.

Still, for all the theatrics and side narratives, the fight on September 13 remains what boxing has always been: two elite fighters stepping into the ring with everything on the line.

Crawford isn’t a natural super middleweight, and he’ll be giving up size against Canelo. But if he emerges victorious, history won’t care about the weight disparity. A win would make Crawford undisputed in a third division — an achievement that would place him in rare air, perhaps even at the top of the modern era's all-time list.