“His punching power and his physical size are the only things I have to worry about,” Terence Crawford admitted to TMZ Sports last year. “Once we get in the ring, we don’t know how I will handle his punching power and size.” The size and power arguments are true. But let’s not forget, Bud Crawford has danced with the big boys before—remember that 8th-round TKO over John Molina Jr. in 2016? Or the 2nd-round finish of Corey Sommerville back in 2009? Both were bigger than Bud, yet the two-division undisputed champion found a way. Beating bigger men isn’t new to him. Still, jumping two weight classes has fans split—is this legacy chasing, or a golden handshake before the exit?

Meanwhile, Shakur Stevenson isn’t buying the cashout before the retirement narrative. As Canelo Alvarez gears up for his 2nd fight of the four-fight deal with the Saudis, Shakur Stevenson’s lining up his own spotlight: a July 12 throwdown with his mandatory, William Zepeda, at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens. Spotted with Eddie Hearn in a recent Fight Hub TV sit-down, Sugar didn’t mince words—the message was clear: two times undisputed champion or not, Canelo Alvarez’s throne might not be as secure as it seems.

Canelo Alvarez is big, but Terence Crawford is better, says Shakur

“Bud gonna cook Canelo [Alvarez]. I think he’s gonna cook him,” he said confidently, with complete belief in his mentor and friend. Although he gave props to the Mexican champion, there was no fence-sitting. “I think Canelo [Alvarez] a hell of a fighter, but I think Bud [Crawford] just got all the tools to beat him,” the WBC Lightweight champion declared. That led to the inevitable follow-up: “You don’t think the weight difference is gonna be too big of an advantage?” And the Newark native started, “I think y’all make that something. In certain fights…” before someone else jumped in with, “Boxing makes it something. Not us.”

Fair enough. But the 27-year-old continued his argument: “If this was like Benavidez, he’s actually a lot bigger than Bud. So that would apply. But I feel like with Canelo, he’s physically kinda big. But like height-wise, he’s kinda small. So I don’t think so. Nah.”

Interestingly, the 37-year-old holds a three-and-a-half-inch reach advantage as well as a half-inch bump in height. So when Stevenson shrugged off the size talk, he’s not just speaking from the hip; he’s doing the math.

And in the end came the big finish. “By decision or stoppage? Cause Breadman [Stephen “Breadman” Edwards] and Boozy [Ennis] thinks that Bud actually might stop him,” they asked. And Shakur Stevenson didn’t dodge it. “Me and Boozy talked about that,” he said. “That’s crazy… But I think that’s possible. Like I’m not saying that it’s going to happen but i think it’s a possibility if Canelo get to acting out of line and not understanding that Bud can crack too.” If that isn’t a bold endorsement of Terence Crawford, nothing is.

Canelo Alvarez may still wear the fan-favorite crown, having kicked off 2025 with a win against William Scull. But Crawford still has believers stacking up. And now, with one more fighter casting doubt on Canelo Alvarez’s chances, the narrative is shifting, quietly, but unmistakably.

Canelo Alvarez’s speed gets the side-eye

Tim Bradley was fresh off the Navarrete-Suarez scrap at Pechanga Arena when the inevitable question came flying his way: “What do you think about Canelo-Crawford? Who’s winning that?” Bradley didn’t flinch. “You already know I’m biased,” Bradley grinned. “I got Crawford, dude.” One reporter pushed back, predicting a Canelo Alvarez finish inside ten. And the former WBO welterweight champion clapped back with a smirk. “He couldn’t catch a chicken in his last fight…. He couldn’t catch a chicken, so how the hell are you going to catch Crawford?”

As chatter drifted back to the controversial Navarrete decision, Bradley doubled down. “I’m biased. I don’t even want to,” he laughed, before looping back with another jab. “Don’t listen to me. I’m just letting y’all know, don’t listen. I’m biased, but I’m just saying Canelo couldn’t catch that chicken, that chicken he was up against. How the hell do you think he’s going to catch Crawford, one of the best and most skillful fighters in the game?”

While fans and pundits are still stuck in neutral, Bradley’s foot is on the gas. There’s no gray area in his call, Canelo Alvarez’s taking the L. So, who would you pick?