The hot topic during the buildup of the superfight between
Canelo Alvarez and
Terence Crawford is whether or not the challenger can handle the power of the much bigger undisputed super middleweight champion.
Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs), a 154-pound WBA titleholder, will jump up two weight classes to challenge Alvarez (63-2-2, 39 KOs) on
Sept. 13 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Netflix.
Junior middleweight contender
Tim Tszyu believes the crafty Crawford can not only handle Alvarez's power, but counter with his fair share of crushing shots, too.
“I think Crawford can hurt Canelo,” Tszyu told
The Ring. “He has variety, and the shots that you don't see coming. I think he can do damage. In my opinion, from the way Canelo has looked in his last couple of fights, I think Crawford wins. I used to go the other direction but I feel like Canelo is not like the type of fighter he was in the Gennadiy Golovkin days. I think he's a little bit more comfortable now. Canelo is in shape, but Crawford has a lot more to prove.”
Tszyu said Crawford will be well served by taking a page from Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s playbook from the 2013 fight vs. the still-green Alvarez when he handed the Mexican his first loss.
“Crawford should just box and move,” said Tszyu. “He's got the IQ. He's a very high-level fighter.”
Manouk Akopyan is The Ring’s lead writer. Follow him on X and Instagram: @ManoukAkopyan