Apr 20, 2019; New York, NY, USA; Terence Crawford looks on after winning his fight against Amir Khan during the WBO welterweight title fight at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Sarah Stier-USA TODAY Sports

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Terence Crawford Shuts Down Muscle Myths With Perfect Response Ahead Of Canelo Alvarez Fight

The boxing world has been obsessed with the muscle vs speed debate for decades. Old-school trainers often preach that bigger muscles automatically make fighters slower, while modern athletes continue to challenge this outdated thinking. Terence Crawford recently shut down muscle myths with perfect response ahead of the Canelo Alvarez fight.

His statement becomes even more significant considering he’s making a massive jump from 154 pounds to face Canelo at 168 pounds on September 13. This two division leap to super middleweight requires Crawford to add serious muscle mass while maintaining the speed and timing that made him a pound for pound king.

This age old debate gained new momentum when bodybuilding style training became popular in combat sports in the early 90’s. Many boxers started hitting the gym harder, but some lost their natural boxing flow and timing in pursuit of bigger biceps. The cautionary tales of muscle bound fighters who forgot how to box properly created a lasting fear that still influences training decisions today. However, modern sports science has shown that the relationship between muscle mass and athletic performance is far more complex than the simple “bigger equals slower” equation that dominated boxing thinking for so long.

Terence Crawford Made A Calculated Risk Against Canelo Alvarez

Crawford’s move up to super middleweight represents one of the boldest career decisions in recent boxing history. The Omaha native has dominated at lightweight, welterweight and junior welterweight. But facing Canelo means stepping into uncharted territory against boxing’s biggest star. His confidence in gaining muscle without losing speed reflects years of careful preparation and understanding of his own body. In a recent countdown video on Netflix Sports, this is what Terence Crawford said:

“Putting on muscle don’t actually mean that you’re going to be slower, but you punch a little harder.”

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The September 13 showdown will prove whether Crawford’s muscle building philosophy actually works at the highest level. Canelo Alvarez has made a career out of punishing fighters who venture into his weight class. But the undefeated Terence Crawford brings something different to the table . He has elite level boxing IQ, excellent versatility as the switch hitter, combined with adaptability that has allowed him to succeed across multiple weight classes.

The upcoming fight will serve as the ultimate laboratory for Terence Crawford theories about muscle gain and performance. If he can maintain his speed while packing enough power to trouble Canelo Alvarez, it would cement his words. The stakes couldn’t be higher for either fighter. A victory would cement Crawford’s legacy as one of the greatest pound for pound fighters ever. Meanwhile a loss could prove that some physical limitations simply can’t be overcome through science and preparation!

(Image Credit: Sarah Stier – Imagn Images)

Canelo Alvarez

Terence Crawford

Zaid Quraishi

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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!