It was September 2013 when two undefeated stars, Canelo Alvarez and Floyd Mayweather Jr. stepped into the ring. On the line were the WBA (Super), WBC, and The Ring light middleweight titles. Despite a ten-year age gap, it was Mayweather who walked away with a majority decision win in front of a packed MGM Grand crowd in Las Vegas. While one judge scored it a draw, most observers agreed the fight wasn’t nearly that close. Mayweather would go on to fight five more times, retiring in 2017 with a perfect 50-0 record. As for Canelo, he rebounded from the loss to carve out a legendary career of his own, becoming the undisputed super middleweight champion and one of boxing’s biggest global icons.

Now, Canelo Alvarez is preparing to defend his undisputed crown against another pound-for-pound great, Terence Crawford. Set for Saturday, September 13th at a yet-to-be-confirmed venue (with Las Vegas as the likely host), the fight pits two of the sport’s most skilled and decorated fighters against each other. Interestingly, as hype builds, after 12 years, Mayweather’s old comments about Canelo’s strength have resurfaced. And if his assessment still holds weight, it could be a major confidence boost for Crawford heading into the biggest fight of his career. So what did he say?

Earlier today, FTTV Boxing stirred up the conversation with a post on Instagram, featuring a photo from the iconic 2013 showdown between Floyd Mayweather and Canelo Alvarez. The caption read, “CANELO’S POWER? NOTHING SPECIAL — MAYWEATHER ISN’T IMPRESSED,” revisiting a quote Mayweather gave after their fight. At the time, Mayweather had weighed in at 150½ pounds, while a 23-year-old Canelo came in slightly heavier at 152. Despite the weight difference, Mayweather wasn’t fazed by Canelo’s strength. Now that’s a remark that could serve as a serious confidence booster for Terence Crawford, who, like Mayweather, will enter his bout with Canelo as the smaller fighter.

Speaking in his post-fight interview back in 2013, Money Mayweather dismissed any notion that Canelo Alvarez’s power was overwhelming. “Not at all,” he said when asked if the young Mexican’s strength had troubled him. “It’s nothing I never felt before after being in the sport over 20 years.” 

That kind of assurance from someone with Mayweather’s résumé only adds fuel to the belief that Crawford, known for his ring IQ and versatility, could be capable of neutralizing the same threats. While Crawford will need to bulk up for this fight, Mayweather’s take on Canelo Alvarez’s power provides a psychological edge, not just for Bud Crawford, but also for his fans hoping to see him defy the odds.

And while critics have pointed out that Crawford hasn’t fought in nearly a year, especially compared to Canelo Alvarez who just picked up a decisive win over William Scull, that layoff may not be as concerning as it seems. Why so?

Why Canelo Alvarez might have a new threat on the horizon

Come September, Terence Crawford is aiming for the kind of history that few in boxing dare to chase. The two-division undisputed champion will jump up to 168 pounds to face Canelo Alvarez. Now, there’ll be no tune-up fights or easing into the weight class. But with nearly six months to prepare, Crawford has been given a full camp to adapt. And according to his longtime trainer Brian “BoMac” McIntyre, that preparation will include sparring with rising super middleweight contender, Lester Martinez.

Martinez is coming off an explosive four-round knockout of Joeshon James, following up on a strong win over Carlos Gongora last year. His natural size, pressure-fighting style, and growing résumé make him the perfect challenge in sparring for Crawford, who will need to get used to dealing with heavier, more powerful opponents.

What’s even more intriguing now is the possibility that Lester Martinez could become Terence Crawford’s replacement if anything unexpected happens on Crawford’s end. But if it comes to that, how would you feel about Canelo Alvarez potentially facing Martinez instead? Would it still have that blockbuster energy?