It has almost been a year since Terence Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) dished out a sensational TKO victory against Errol Spence Jr . (28-1, 22 KOs) and secured all the belts in the welterweight division. After a brief hiatus, ‘Bud’ will make a return to the ring on August 3, albeit with a weight jump, to face WBA super welterweight titleholder Israil Madrimov (10-0-1, 7 KOs) at 154. Meanwhile, he has long set his eyes on a showdown against pound-for-pound king Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez (61-2-2, 39 KOs). However, as he brews these fight plans, Mike Tyson (50-6-2, 44 KOs) had a few warning words for Crawford.
Tyson was recently in an interview with ES News. In conversation, he shared his thoughts on a potential fight between Crawford and Alvarez. The Guadalajaran had initially brushed off any ideas of facing Crawford, stating that he wants no credit for beating a “smaller man.” This would, in turn, possibly push Crawford to make a three-division jump to face Alvarez at super-middleweight.
Tyson, on the other hand, believes that this weight jump might not be a very good idea. “He can do what he wants, but I don’t think it’s a good idea. What would he have at the weight? I don’t know. I just don’t think it’s a good idea,” he said.
While Crawford has jumped a weight class to face Madrimov at 154, he’d have to gain an additional 14 pounds to face Alvarez, and Tyson believes these extra pounds would hinder his performance inside the ring. “People have done things crazy like that before; it’s just that he doesn’t have to do it,” he added.
“I’m Flying Into The Sunset”
Crawford, however, is confident that his fight against Alvarez is the missing piece in the puzzle. In fact, he believes that it is the only accomplishment he can add to his resume. “Going up and becoming undisputed against Canelo? Woo. Come on man, I’m flying into the sunset, man. Thank you boxing gods. That would be it. That’s the only thing there for me,” he said while appearing on the Joe Rogan Experience.
“I accomplished everything there is to accomplish in the sport of boxing. There’s really nothing for me to accomplish right now. It’s about the money now.”
