Over a year ago, Terence Crawford made his 154-lbs debut. In the build-up to the Israil Madrimov fight, talks of a showdown with Canelo Alvarez began to swirl. Now, with the long-awaited bout set for September 13 at Allegiant Stadium, the anticipation grows stronger each day. The last time boxing felt such a buzz was in 2015, when Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao finally met in the ring after nearly a decade of keeping fans on hold. That fight was destined for the history books, and this upcoming clash, pitting two pound-for-pound greats against each other, feels cut from the same cloth. Fans are already split over who they believe will emerge victorious.

Amid the excitement, the matchup has also faced criticism, most of it targeting Terence Crawford ’s leap up two weight classes.

See Full Page