Terence Crawford: A win over Canelo will put me on Mount Rushmore

Nebraska’s undefeated four division world champion, two division undisputed world champion Terence “Bud” Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs) of Omaha is set for his mega showdown with Mexican superstar Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez (62-2-2, 39 KOs) of Mexico. Crawford challenges Canelo as they square off in a showdown taking place Saturday September 13 at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas live on NetFlix.

In what will be the biggest fight of his career, Crawford looks to make the most of his opportunity.

“It will be the first mega fight at Allegiant Stadium. I’m looking forward to doing big things,” Crawford said at the Las Vegas press conference. “A win over Canelo will put me on Mount Rushmore, I really believe that,” Crawford added.

The last time Crawford made the most of his opportunity was March of 2013, slated to be on the preliminary on the Brandon Rios vs Mike Alvarado undercard. When one of the co-feature fighters withdrew due to injury, Crawford stepped in to face the very tough hard punching veteran Breidis Prescott. The result was a clean dominant performance by Crawford as he came out of the fight spotless and clean in winning a unanimous decision.

“Breids Prescott was supposed to be this big power puncher with all the experience, just like Canelo,” Crawford told SouthernCaliforniaBoxing.com. “He had the resume and he had the fights, that was years ago,” Crawford added.

As I witnessed that impressive performance ringside, in the process of completing the quick bout report for my deadline. I noticed Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum enthusiastically greeting and congratulating Crawford on his performance prior to the official announcement. From my perspective, that was the sign of good things to come from Crawford.

“I’m a totally different fighter now and I will prove it September 13. You can believe me, you can doubt me but September 13 I assure you that I will be walking away with my hand raised,” Crawford stated.

Just three months later, I made the trip to Dallas, Texas to cover world champion Mikey Garcia defend his title against former world champion Juan Manuel Lopez and in the co-feature was none other than Terence Crawford as he would go on to score a stoppage over Alejandro Sanabria on HBO and joining team Crawford was a large contingency of fellow Nebraskans making the trip from Omaha on five chartered busses.

One year later in 2014, Crawford traveled to Scotland and defeated Ricky Burns to win his first world title in capturing the WBO lightweight title. Three years later, Crawford picked up the WBO super lightweight title stopping Thomas Dulorme in 6 and then added the WBC title with a unanimous decision over Viktor Postol and IBF title with a knockout over Julius Indongo. Defeating Jeff Horne in 2018. Crawford added the WBO welterweight title, picking up his third title in his third weight class.

“The most meaningful fight for me was becoming world champion. In the fans eye’s my biggest moment was against Errol Spence,” Crawford explained.

Crawford’s biggest wins to date have come against former world champion Shawn Porter in 2021 and previously undefeated former world champion Errol Spence to add the WBC & IBF titles nearly two years ago. Crawford was last in the ring almost a year ago as he won a unanimous decision over Israil Madrimov in a subpar performance in winning the interim WBO super welterweight title.

“When I fight somebody they portray to be somebody, I make them look like nobody. He was better than him, that's why he beat him. Come September 13, like I said before I will make everyone cry,” Crawford said

Making the leap now from super welterweight to super middleweight, Bud Crawford will go from 154 pounds to 168 pounds to challenge the four-division world champion Mexican superstar Alvarez.

“I will leave the opinions to everyone else but after this fight I will be on Mount Rushmore. That’s where I will be,” Crawford said.

Canelo won a lackluster one-sided unanimous decision over William Scull in his last fight taking place in Riyadh and was joined by Turki Allalshiek and Crawford as the fight was announced shortly after the victory.

“I’m a big fan of Canelo. He is a great fighter but I think I’m better. Everything I have, the tools that I have I’m capable of anything inside the ring,” Crawford on Canelo.

With just over two months to go for the showdown, Crawford will now prepare in his hometown of Omaha under the watchful eyes of his longtime trainers Brian “BoMac” McIntyre and Esau Dieguez.

“I’m putting on the right weight for this fight. We will see fight night, if I gas out, or can't handle the pressure. I need to focus on what to do to get the job done and if I get the victory. I get the victory,” Crawford on his preparation.

There is no question that a victory over Canelo Alvarez will catapult Crawford as perhaps one of the greatest fighters of this era. Despite being the underdog for this fight, confidently speaking and assured, Crawford is determined for victory.

“When I become undisputed I will be on Mount Rushmore,” Crawford concluded.

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