This Saturday, a duel that will mark boxing history: on September 13 in Las Vegas, Terence “Bud” Crawford will challenge Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez in a fight as bold as it is unexpected…
I’ll have the chance to be there. On September 11, I’ll fly out with Shawn Collinson to meet up with Christian Mbilli, Marc Ramsay, Luc-Vincent Ouellet, and the rest of the team. It’ll be a doubly special evening for us, since Mbilli will be featured in the co-main event, facing Lester Martinez of Guatemala.
To properly prepare for these events, we had to split the team in two. Marc, Luc-Vincent, and Christian went to Big Bear, California, to take advantage of the altitude training and the unique atmosphere of that legendary preparation site. From there, they headed straight to Las Vegas at the start of last week.
Shawn and I, on our end, held down the fort in Montreal. We kept the work going with all the other fighters in camp: Moreno Fendero, Jhon Orobio, Dzmitry Asanau, Wyatt Sanford, Arslanbek Makhmudov, Mehmet Unal, Erik Bazinyan, and Leïla Beaudoin. This balance was necessary to ensure that everyone continues to progress and is ready for their own challenges.
Photo: Vincent Ethier – Christian Mbilli
Meanwhile, the entire boxing world is turning its eyes to Crawford and Canelo. The former, undisputed champion at welterweight (147 lbs), has made the outrageous gamble to move up three weight divisions to super middleweight (168 lbs). His transformation is simply remarkable. By adding nearly 15 pounds of muscle, he hasn’t just gained mass—he appears to have maintained his speed and fluidity. His strength coach, Chet Fortune, speaks about it with amazement:
“He looks even faster at 168 lbs than he did at 154… People who see him can’t believe it.”This success comes down to a surgical approach: rigorous strength training, patient and methodical progression. Crawford arrives in Las Vegas more massive, but without abandoning his identity.
In front of him stands Canelo, the embodiment of experience. He’s been competing at 168 lbs for years, where his compact body and devastating power reign supreme. But his 67 fights and countless training camps have left their marks. In recent years, we’ve seen his knees sometimes wrapped or braced—signs of natural wear and tear. His recent fights hint at a more measured style: high guard, constant forward pressure, heavy and precise punches thrown to shut opponents down.
Photo: CBS Sports – Alvarez vs Crawford
One can already imagine the scenario: Crawford, an agile dancer, trying to outmaneuver power with movement, relying on reflexes and versatility to score points and frustrate his opponent. Opposite him, Canelo, the Mexican rock, advancing step by step, cutting off the ring, waiting for that moment when his hook or uppercut seals the fight’s fate. Two men, same weight on the scale, but not the same story: one carries the boldness of a reckless challenge; the other, the weight of a long reign.
On September 13, the ring will be more than just four ropes. It’ll be a stage where two visions of boxing, two life paths, two ways of etching one’s name into legend will clash. Crawford arrives heavier, but still light on his feet, determined to defy the impossible. Canelo, marked by time but still formidable, will advance with the quiet brutality of someone who has seen it all. And while muscles and résumés each tell their own story, it’s in that fleeting instant of truth—the punch that lands or the one that misses—that legend will be written.
That being said, Noé Cloutier often asks me for my thoughts on major upcoming fights, and this one between Canelo Álvarez and Terence Crawford has him particularly excited. I owe him a logical answer… From a purely technical standpoint, I believe Crawford has everything needed to win on points. However, knowing the realities of elite boxing and the aura surrounding Canelo, it’s more likely that the outcome swings another way: either a draw or a majority decision in favor of the Mexican. Such an outcome would pave the way for an even more hyped rematch—and with it, several million dollars that would fuel this already historic rivalry.
