The countdown to the fight of the year has begun. On September 13, the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas will host the showdown between Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez and Terence Crawford, a bout that has divided opinions across the boxing world.

The Mexican star enters as the undisputed champion at 168 pounds, while the American will be moving up two weight classes to take on the challenge. The big question: can Crawford’s technical brilliance overcome Canelo’s physical power and experience?

Amir Khan warns about Canelo’s power

Former British boxer Amir Khan, who faced both men during his career, stated that Crawford is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, but admitted that taking on the Mexican is an entirely different challenge.

Khan emphasized that Canelo Álvarez’s punching power, combined with his ability to absorb punishment, could be decisive—especially against a rival stepping up from lighter divisions. “Even if Canelo isn’t at his absolute peak, his power is still a huge problem,” Khan noted.

Crawford, the favorite for many fighters

On the other hand, several voices in the boxing community see Terence Crawford as the favorite to win. Shawn Porter argued that the size difference is overblown and that the American’s intelligence and speed give him the edge over the Mexican.

Similarly, Jeff Horn and Egidijus “Mean Machine” Kavaliauskas agreed that Crawford’s precision and adaptability could dismantle Canelo’s strategy, potentially neutralizing his physical strength.

Not everyone sees it that way, though. Uzbek fighter Israil Madrimov, Crawford’s most recent opponent, called it a 50/50 fight. In his view, the outcome will depend on how well the American handles the jump in weight. “If he doesn’t overdo it and stays true to his style, it’s going to be a close and spectacular fight,” Madrimov said.

A fight with historic stakes

Expectations are sky-high: Canelo Álvarez looks to cement his legacy as one of the all-time greats, while Terence Crawford aims to prove that his pound-for-pound dominance translates into higher weight classes.

On September 13, the ring will decide who deserves the glory in a night already destined to make boxing history.