BoxRec

It is told that both Canelo and Crawford will have separate fights in spring before colliding in September.

Canelo's opponent in May is likely to be William Scull.

Who could Crawford fight? Will it be a gimme? Or will he take on a legitimate opponent? Could Crawford actually fight Scull for the IBF belt, instead of Canelo?

I would strongly advise Crawford to fight a gimme opponent. He's new to the weight which is 2 weight classes higher than he's ever been. He doesn't want to jeopardize the fight of his life, and the payday of his life by slipping on a banana peel in a tune up.

Hi! its a bit of a tough question who Crawford should face next. there are a few good or undefeated fighters in the weight class, but He should focus on someone in his own organization (WBA). looking at the rankings there's a few names to pick from.
Number 1 ranked: Abass Baraou
with a record of 16-1 and being the European champ, he has a good chance to get the fight. i haven't seen to much of him. but he can fight outside, and inside pretty well. a good counter puncher. i think that despite his high ranking, Abass would be a decently easy fight for Crawford. nothing about him really sticks out to the eye apart from his fast left hood and good straight counters. decent footwork as well. but Crawfords style is normally built to not be easily countered. so i can see him winning.

number 2 ranked: Yoenis Tellez
with a record of9-0 and being a young up and comer speed running the ranks. Tellez is a very talented young man physically. rocking the less common flat foot Cuban style, very similar to David morrell. Tellez is fast, strong, able to be slick, and likes to push the action when he can. Crawford would have way more issues with this guy than he would Abass. Tellez seems very gifted but lacking pro experience and recognizable names on his record. his most notable win is a worn-down Johan Gonzalez who barely through strong punches thought the fight (very boring fight). i think by sheer talent, gifts and youth (14 years younger i think), Tellez would be one of Crawfords toughest fights in this weight class. not exactly the easy tone up before a canelo fight he might look for.

number 3 ranked: Erickson Lubin
with a record of 26-2 and having fought Charlo and Fundora. this man might be the best opponent to fight as a title defense if I'm being honest. has fought for a world title, interim world title, and has and has held the WBC silver belt before. he is the most recognizable name in the rankings i would guess. he has wins over other contenders, such as his most recent win against Jesus Ramos jr who is now ranked number 7. he seems to have power, knocking down Fundora in his match against him. it would be a good fight for Crawford to make a statement as well, i think. especially if he ever plans to unify against Fundora. it would be those types of fights were its good, but if if Lubin gets caught cleanly, he'll probs get knocked down or out. but a good fight for Crawford non the less

these are literally just the top 3 in WBA, i could have picked other fighters but they're either fighting soon, or just unknown like commonwealth champ Sam Gilley who is only really known in the Uk. defeating notable brits like Mcgann or Greene. but again, those names are only recognized in the Uk. then we have the IBO Inter-Continental Super Welter/ south African champ Shervantaigh Koopman. Koopman is ranked 13 without having any actual names in his record. not a bad boxer by any means, but just literally unknown. only reason i know of him is cuz i saw his name appear here on boxrec and followed his insta.... idk man i thought he looked cool n stuff. and he's bald..... nvm. point is, these 2 opponents would be a great tune up, but people would get mad, especially the American audience.

but thats all ive got to say. who do i want him to fight? Bohachuk vs Crawford would go crazy in my opinion. but thats all ive got to say. this is my first ever comment on anything here on boxrec, so hope its not ass or anything. much love to anyone that read, and God bless.

How about a fight at middleweight, like say Eubank?

Scull is the current IBF super middleweight champion block blast, having won the title by defeating Vladimir Shishkinht. This fight would be a significant challenge for Canelo as he aims to regain the IBF belt.

squiggy wrote: ↑21 Jan 2025, 22:26 How about a fight at middleweight, like say Eubank?

Eubank fights in April so that's out.

Crawford should fight Surace. Undefeated fighter who just KOd the man who went the distance with Canelo.

Perfect set up for their bout.

Take on Lara for the 160 WBA title. Decent name on a winning streak.
Crawford can get in some rounds and add another belt at yet another weight division.

tiny_acres wrote: ↑22 Jan 2025, 21:57 Take on Lara for the 160 WBA title. Decent name on a winning streak.
Crawford can get in some rounds and add another belt at yet another weight division.

I agree, pick himself up a belt in another division before having a crack at 168.
Lara, Adames or Alimkhanuly would all rate their chances and be happy for a decent payday.

Taansend wrote: ↑22 Jan 2025, 21:46

squiggy wrote: ↑21 Jan 2025, 22:26 How about a fight at middleweight, like say Eubank?

Eubank fights in April so that's out.

Crawford should fight Surace. Undefeated fighter who just KOd the man who went the distance with Canelo.

Perfect set up for their bout.

Surace already obliged to give Munguia the rematch. They have an agreement in place (for an immediate rematch). But yeah, it wouldn't have been a bad option for Bud.

tiny_acres wrote: ↑22 Jan 2025, 21:57 Take on Lara for the 160 WBA title. Decent name on a winning streak.
Crawford can get in some rounds and add another belt at yet another weight division.

That's a good idea. Not sure, if Lara will be the one who will get an assignment, though.

Les Norton wrote: ↑23 Jan 2025, 01:27

tiny_acres wrote: ↑22 Jan 2025, 21:57 Take on Lara for the 160 WBA title. Decent name on a winning streak.
Crawford can get in some rounds and add another belt at yet another weight division.

I agree, pick himself up a belt in another division before having a crack at 168.
Lara, Adames or Alimkhanuly would all rate their chances and be happy for a decent payday.

I feel like Adames will lose his belt to Sheeraz in a month. Crawford-Sheeraz for the WBC 160lbs belt? Not sure, whether Warren will fancy throwing Sheeraz in the ring with Crawford right away. But if Turki Alalshikh will like this idea - Warren might not have a choice. Turki gives them money these days.

Alalshikh seems to be liking both Crawford and Sheeraz. So, might be a possible option.

Taansend wrote: ↑22 Jan 2025, 21:46

squiggy wrote: ↑21 Jan 2025, 22:26 How about a fight at middleweight, like say Eubank?

Eubank fights in April so that's out.

Crawford should fight Surace. Undefeated fighter who just KOd the man who went the distance with Canelo.

Perfect set up for their bout.

Surace is rematching Munguia

I would say Fundora or Murtazaliev. Murta would be decent preparation for Canelo.

Other option just go up to 160 and fight someone like Adames or Alimkhanuly.

I have bad feeling he would not fight before september at all. Will Canelo fight in May?

Cent0089 wrote: ↑25 Jan 2025, 02:53 I have bad feeling he would not fight before september at all. Will Canelo fight in May?

Only yesterday Canelo said he wants to keep his cinco de mayo date.

So that answers.

I do hope we see Bud out twice this year.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑25 Jan 2025, 03:51

Cent0089 wrote: ↑25 Jan 2025, 02:53 I have bad feeling he would not fight before september at all. Will Canelo fight in May?

Only yesterday Canelo said he wants to keep his cinco de mayo date.

So that answers.

I do hope we see Bud out twice this year.

Thats good to hear. Who do you think it will be? I would love to see Canelo - Mbilli. But it will be William Scull probably

Cent0089 wrote: ↑25 Jan 2025, 04:21

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑25 Jan 2025, 03:51

Cent0089 wrote: ↑25 Jan 2025, 02:53 I have bad feeling he would not fight before september at all. Will Canelo fight in May?

Only yesterday Canelo said he wants to keep his cinco de mayo date.

So that answers.

I do hope we see Bud out twice this year.

Thats good to hear. Who do you think it will be? I would love to see Canelo - Mbilli. But it will be William Scull probably

I seen many say Bud should try and get the belt of Scull.

No idea really. Not even sure who Canelo has been linked with. i feel like the las couple years, hes just been fighting knockover jobs, other than his loss to Bivol. He has just taken it easy since then.

EdwardRevolver1993 wrote: ↑23 Jan 2025, 07:05

tiny_acres wrote: ↑22 Jan 2025, 21:57 Take on Lara for the 160 WBA title. Decent name on a winning streak.
Crawford can get in some rounds and add another belt at yet another weight division.

That's a good idea. Not sure, if Lara will be the one who will get an assignment, though.

- Zer0 $ in both Craw and Lady Lara much less vs each other, the stink factor rules of boxing.

Can near Guarantee Canelo goes after the Bena/Morrell WBC Interim 174 Belt no matter who wins. That way he closes out his career in style after 20 yrs of pro boxing. The sports here will have to find another carcass to kick...

Reynoso said they are considering Scull or Mbilli for Cinco de Mayo, what do you think ?

Either Charlo brothers

Crawford won't fight until September and that's due to him bulking up to 168 for the Canelo fight. Canelo will fight Schull in May.

Crawford is smart if he goes straight into the Canelo fight at this point because I don't like his chances against any of the top 10 guys at 168. Cash in against Canelo in September and call it a day.

NateJR wrote: ↑03 Feb 2025, 14:52 Crawford won't fight until September and that's due to him bulking up to 168 for the Canelo fight. Canelo will fight Schull in May.

Also.. bud is injured til at least May

In the old days, Crawford would have a couple of stay busy tune-up bouts, before the Big Clash versus Canelo in September.
Murtalaziev, Fundora, and Lara, they'd be the ideal three opponents imo. Crawford-Lara in a 10 rounder non title bout would still make for a good scrap, especially for the fans. I see Murtalaziev as being the one to hold off on though. He's definitely very high risk. Fundora would be the safer second opponent choice tune-up 10 rounder for Crawford imo.

robbydecker wrote: ↑07 Feb 2025, 11:50 In the old days, Crawford would have a couple of stay busy tune-up bouts, before the Big Clash versus Canelo in September.
Murtalaziev, Fundora, and Lara, they'd be the ideal three opponents imo. Crawford-Lara in a 10 rounder non title bout would still make for a good scrap, especially for the fans. I see Murtalaziev as being the one to hold off on though. He's definitely very high risk. Fundora would be the safer second opponent choice tune-up 10 rounder for Crawford imo.

In the old days a tune up was a tune up too. It didn't mean you took on some guy that was lower half of the Top 10. It meant you took on some guy nobody had ever heard, and just added a win to your record over a guy every knew had no chance whatsoever

Tune up fights are definitely a good idea. Carefully selecting who you choose to tune up against is also a good idea.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑07 Feb 2025, 14:45

robbydecker wrote: ↑07 Feb 2025, 11:50 In the old days, Crawford would have a couple of stay busy tune-up bouts, before the Big Clash versus Canelo in September.
Murtalaziev, Fundora, and Lara, they'd be the ideal three opponents imo. Crawford-Lara in a 10 rounder non title bout would still make for a good scrap, especially for the fans. I see Murtalaziev as being the one to hold off on though. He's definitely very high risk. Fundora would be the safer second opponent choice tune-up 10 rounder for Crawford imo.

In the old days a tune up was a tune up too. It didn't mean you took on some guy that was lower half of the Top 10. It meant you took on some guy nobody had ever heard, and just added a win to your record over a guy every knew had no chance whatsoever

Tune up fights are definitely a good idea. Carefully selecting who you choose to tune up against is also a good idea.

I think that Crawford would win a 7-3 type of decision versus the 41 year old Lara.

He'd probably also win a 7-3 type of decision versus Fundora.

That seems like Tune-Up material/level fights for Crawford.

Murtalaziev would very likely give Crawford the Most trouble. So yeah, like I stated, High Risk, and therefore better off waiting for that caliber of high risk Opponent.