As fight night looms, Terence Crawford’s power is under scrutiny as he prepares for his blockbuster clash with Canelo Alvarez on Sept. 13 in Las Vegas, a nagging question is being thrown into the mix: does Terence Crawford really have the power to hurt Canelo Alvarez at super middleweight? Crawford, now 41-0, has dominated at lighter weights with skill and speed. But after a lackluster stoppage rate at 154 pounds notably a razor-close decision over hard-hitting Israil Madrimov last August pundits and fans have begun to wonder if his famous boxing IQ will be enough to compensate for any drop in single-punch pop when he meets the much bigger Alvarez.
Terence Crawford’s Power Under Scrutiny
In recent weeks even some of Crawford’s own supporters have admitted that stopping Canelo Alvarez might be a big ask. Critics point out that in his last outing Crawford barely beat Madrimov by decision, despite both men being cautious. Veteran voices like former Canelo Alvarez foe Josesito Lopez have publicly said Crawford is “too small” to overpower Alvarez, though capable of making the early rounds competitive. Keyshawn Davis, a rising lightweight, went so far as to call Crawford a “super great” boxer but warned that giving Canelo a knockout would be a monumental task.
Social media analysts have noted that Terence Crawford was forced to fight very carefully against Madrimov after feeling some heavy shots, effectively admitting he couldn’t rely on force alone. Even onlookers have joked that Crawford’s last bout was “boring” a Mayweather-style round-the-park performance avoiding heavy exchanges suggesting that the champion himself knows he can’t slug it out like past versions of Canelo’s opponents.
These factors have led some to speculate that Crawford lacks the devastating one-punch power that defined some of Alvarez’s recent victims. Alvarez, by contrast, has shown time and again that he carries his power with him across weight classes, and his liver punches are feared. If skeptics are right, Crawford might need to win a long, tactical chess match rather than look for a highlight-reel KO.
Can Crawford’s Ring IQ Offset the Power Deficit?
But many pundits quickly counter that Terence Crawford’s Power is not his greatest asset but is in fact his ring craft. Former champion Amir Khan the only man to share the ring with both fighters has praised Crawford’s blend of strength, speed and intelligence. Khan points out that Crawford has a “perfect boxing IQ,” exceptional footwork and surprisingly solid power for a smaller man, noting that he himself felt Crawford’s punches in sparring.
Given the choice of style, Crawford’s team is publicly committed to out-boxing Canelo Alvarez rather than trading bombs. Trainer Brian “BoMac” McIntyre recently outlined a plan of constant lateral movement and hit-and-not-get-hit essentially the same approach Floyd Mayweather used against bigger punchers suggesting Crawford will treat Canelo like any other large target to be nicked round by round.
Hall of Fame fighters like Andre Ward have echoed this view, reminding fans that Crawford’s adaptability and counter-punching make him the most dangerous fighter in the ring when he gets comfortable. Even though veteran Joe Rogan warned that “one clean liver shot” from Canelo could be a nightmare for Crawford, Rogers has also noted that the Nebraska native’s speed might allow him to land dozens of jabs and counters without ever taking those bombs. In essence, Crawford’s camp and backers believe his youth relative to Canelo (he’s four years younger), fresher legs, and supreme ring IQ give him a legitimate chance, even if he isn’t a one-punch knockout artist at 168.
Terence Crawford himself quietly seems to agree that smarts will win the day. Insiders note that while he’s added some weight, he isn’t bulking up into a pure slugger instead, he’s maintaining the quickness and precision that made him a four-division champ. In interviews, Crawford avoids talk of knockouts and instead emphasizes out-boxing the Mexican star. Behind the scenes, his camp is happy to let doubters focus on power; as one advisor put it, the soundest strategy against Canelo is to be “as busy as possible, landing dozens of clean punches without standing there.”
In the end, the talk about Crawford’s power is really part of a broader debate: is this a contest of speed and intelligence (Crawford’s specialty) or raw strength (Canelo’s realm)? American fans remember how Crawford dismantled Errol Spence not with one-shot knockdowns but by out-foxing him over rounds. For months, British and US boxing enthusiasts have been weighing this very issue. Some see Crawford’s undefeated résumé and savvy counter-punching as a recipe for upending a less-mobile foe; others recall Canelo’s history of wearing down crafty boxers (remember Liam Smith or Gennadiy Golovkin) and argue that size and power tell in the end.
At this point, the question of Terence Crawford’s power versus his cunning isn’t settled by any facts. The last time we saw Crawford fight was on a world stage, but not in a blockbuster prime vs prime scenario. All that can be said is: come Sept. 13, the ring will give its answer. If Crawford can utilize his speed, angles and ring IQ to frustrate Alvarez, he might well win on points and some will argue that’s the smarter path for the smaller man. But if Canelo’s heavy body shots land, the doubts about Crawford’s knockout punch will seem prescient.
One thing is sure: this debate only adds intrigue to an already must-see matchup. Whether fans end up proven right or wrong about Crawford’s power, the conversation underscores just how interesting this fight is. Until fight night, the answers will be speculative and that question about Terence Crawford’s power will loom as one of the most talked-about aspects of the super middleweight showdown.
