Terence Crawford moves into a fourth division on August 3 but he doesn’t plan to stop there.
The two-time undisputed champion catapulted to the top of pound-for-pound lists last year with a dominant victory over Errol Spence Jr. During his media victory lap, he set his sights on Saul ‘Canelo‘ Alvarez.
The Mexican great, who currently holds all four belts at super-middleweight, initially dismissed the fight, saying he would get no credit for beating the smaller man.
Crawford would have to make a three-division jump from welterweight, but makes the first tentative step this year when he moves to 154 to challenge WBA champion Israil Madrimov.
Speaking to ES News, former undisputed heavyweight champion Mike Tyson warned ‘Bud’ Crawford against the weight jump, saying he didn’t have to do it for a legacy already cemented.
“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. People have done things crazy like that before, it’s just that he doesn’t have to do it.”
Crawford’s performance against the undefeated Uzbek will be a good measuring stick for his ability to still pack on pounds after winning his first world titles at lightweight.
Meanwhile, Tyson himself is preparing for a fight – one some might say, like his own advice, ‘he doesn’t have to do.’ He will face Jake Paul in November in a professional contest with slightly altered rules. It was initially postponed
