BoxRec

In light of Crawford's moving up in weight to fight Canelo later this year, let's try to fantasize what would happen, if today's Crawford would've been teleported back to 2010-2012 and he would've tried to move up more gradually, without hopping over the middleweight division.

This way, after 154 he'd climb up to 160, where the lineal champ was Sergio Martinez.

Today's Crawford vs Martinez of the early 2010's would be about the same age (36-37).

Who would've won this one?

For me, Martinez (pre-blowing out his knee) by UD something like 115-113 or 116-112. Martinez started as a welterweight and was more natural at middleweight. He had the legs, speed and power to outpoint Crawford, IMO, in a really good fight

agreed

giacomino wrote: ↑12 Apr 2025, 14:06 For me, Martinez (pre-blowing out his knee) by UD something like 115-113 or 116-112. Martinez started as a welterweight and was more natural at middleweight. He had the legs, speed and power to outpoint Crawford, IMO, in a really good fight

I can see that. Crawford is 37 years of age. Martinez was 37 in 2012, so even before blowing his knee. And even at that age, he was more dynamic than Crawford (at least, than the one we saw against Madrimov).

But Martinez' frequent struggle against classic fighters and fighters with solid fundamental makes me question, how would he cope with Crawford's "all-aroundness".

Now, I don't know whether a move another weigh division up would slow Bud considerably... But if he'll be, at least, as fine as he was vs Madrimov - I can see Crawford being able to disrupt Martinez' rhythm with his timing. Those long arms of Bud would be a headache for SM, too.

I think, that would've been a really-really interesting fight.