Sep 13, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Canelo Alvarez (black/gold trunks) and Terence Crawford (black/red trunks) box during their super middleweight title bout at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

mma

Terence Crawford And Floyd Mayweather Debate Intensifies With Canelo’s Shocking Claim And Analyst Comparisons Between Legends

Boxing fans love nothing more than debating who ranks as the greatest fighter of all time. These conversations have raged for decades, with passionate supporters arguing for their favorites across different eras and weight classes. The sport’s rich history provides endless ammunition for these discussions, from Sugar Ray Robinson’s artistry to Muhammad Ali’s charisma to Mike Tyson’s devastating power. However, modern debates often center around more recent champions who fans actually witnessed during their peak years. And currently, Floyd Mayweather and Terence Crawford are in the crosshairs.

Crawford’s historic achievement of becoming undisputed champion in three different weight classes has reignited discussions about where he stands among boxing‘s all-time greats. Mayweather’s undefeated record and technical brilliance have long made him the measuring stick for modern fighters. But Crawford’s recent accomplishments have some people questioning that hierarchy. The timing couldn’t be more perfect for these discussions, as Crawford reaches the absolute peak of his powers while still actively competing at the highest level!

Max Kellerman’s Nuanced Take On The Crawford-Mayweather Comparison

Max Kellerman brought his decades of boxing analysis experience to bear when discussing the Crawford vs Mayweather debate on his show Inside The Ring. The veteran commentator acknowledged that Mayweather possesses certain advantages over Crawford, particularly in terms of resume depth, defensive skills, and hand speed. These technical aspects represent undeniable strengths that made Mayweather one of the most dominant champions in boxing history.

However, Kellerman pointed out that Mayweather became increasingly selective about his opponents after leaving the lightweight division. He believed that he carefully timed when he faced certain dangerous fighters. This strategic approach helped preserve Mayweather’s undefeated record but also created questions about his willingness to face all comers during their prime years.

Kellerman contrasted this with Crawford’s apparent eagerness to fight anyone throughout his entire career, suggesting that this mentality resonates differently with boxing fans and fellow fighters.

“If you look at Floyd’s resume, it’s much deeper than Crawford’s, and Floyd was faster and he had a better defense and all that stuff. But Floyd picked and chose when he fought guys, especially once he left lightweight. Once he left lightweight, he was careful about when he fought guys…Crawford, we all witnessed, even though the resume is thin in certain ways, he wanted it with everyone the whole time. That makes a difference to people.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Inside The Ring (@insideringshow)

The analyst drew fascinating comparisons between Crawford and legendary fighters like Sugar Ray Robinson and Roy Jones Jr. Kellerman suggested that Crawford has reached a similar level of respect among his peers. This represents the kind of status that transcends record books and statistical comparisons.

Canelo Alvarez’s Bold Statement About Terence Crawford Adds Fuel To The Fire

Canelo Alvarez made waves during his post-fight press conference when he declared that Terence Crawford is a better fighter than Floyd Mayweather. This statement carries particular weight considering it came from someone who suffered losses to Crawford as well as Floyd Mayweather. Canelo’s willingness to make such a bold claim immediately after losing shows either remarkable sportsmanship or genuine belief in the undefeated Crawford’s superiority.

The Mexican superstar’s comments sparked immediate controversy throughout the boxing community. Some supporters pointed to Crawford’s willingness to move up multiple weight classes and face elite competition, while others defended Mayweather’s perfect record and superior resume.

Terence Crawford himself revealed that Alvarez has been in the ring with both him and Mayweather. Him saying that Crawford was better was because of his personal experience. Talking on The Ariel Helwani Show, this is what he said:

“[Canelo] was in the ring with both of us. People can say what they want, but he’s actually been in the ring with both of us.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Uncrowned (@uncrowned)

The ongoing debate will likely continue throughout Crawford’s remaining career and beyond. These discussions remind fans why boxing remains such a compelling sport with these type of legacy questions extending far beyond what happens inside the ring during those twelve rounds.

(Image Credit: Joe Camporeale – Imagn Images)

Canelo Alvarez

Floyd Mayweather

Terence Crawford

Zaid Quraishi

mma

I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!