Crawford vs Canelo: Bud’s winning mindset, his obsession with winning

Terence Crawford: The Man Who Defies the Impossible

Terence “Bud” Crawford’s life revolves around proving everyone wrong. This Saturday, number 3 in the pound-for-pound ranking of Alofoke Deportes, will face Canelo Álvarez, Mexican world champion, in two weight categories above, in search of the 168-pound world championships. For Crawford, a former undisputed champion in two divisions, victory is fundamental. Crawford’s competitive spirit extends beyond boxing. From table tennis and chess to video games, basketball, and cards, as well as debates, cooking, and cleaning, everything is a battlefield. His main motivation is to achieve what others consider unattainable.

“It’s something I was born with. I think being small all my life forced me to work harder than those blessed with natural talent, size, and things like that. Losing is not an option. I have to win at all costs and no matter what.”

Terence Crawford

Crawford seeks to make history in his next fight. Although being undisputed champion in two divisions is no longer exclusive, with figures like Oleksandr Usyk and Naoya Inoue, conquering three divisions would be an unprecedented achievement in men’s boxing (Claressa Shields has achieved this in women’s boxing). A triumph would unite him with Dingaan “The Rose of Soweto” Thobela as the only boxers to win world titles in lightweight and super-middleweight. The fact that they tell him something is impossible drives Crawford.

“Terence Crawford is the most competitive person I’ve ever met.”

Shakur Stevenson

Stevenson, a friend of Crawford’s for almost a decade, has witnessed his character both inside and outside the ring. That competitiveness is what Crawford will bring to the ring against Canelo, hoping to leave the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas with four new belts. When Crawford talks about a fight, he doesn’t predict; he reveals the outcome.

“Canelo’s fans are going to be crying on Sunday morning when I take their belts.”

Terence Crawford

Crawford is obsessed with being the best at everything. He avoids team sports because the outcome doesn’t depend solely on him. This was the reason he quit American football in his teens to dedicate himself to boxing. If he needs to depend on others to determine whether he wins or loses, he’s not interested. Boubacar Sylla, who helped Crawford prepare for his junior welterweight unification fight against Viktor Postol in 2016 and has been a key element in each of his camps, has witnessed firsthand Crawford’s pursuit of greatness.

“I’ve never seen that man lose at anything. He’s never dominated in sparring or anything he does. He’s absolutely relentless.”

Boubacar Sylla

Stevenson and Sylla emphasize Crawford’s obsession with competing in everything imaginable.

“I won at ping pong. But then he beat me three times after that. He’s a sore loser and will make you play 100 times until he wins. He won’t let you win anything.”

Shakur Stevenson

Sylla remembered some of the most ridiculous competitions he’s had with Crawford.

“He challenged me to a cooking contest. He challenged me to see who could sleep the longest once. He won that too. He will challenge you to see who can walk the furthest… Whatever you challenge him to, he will find a way to win. I haven’t seen anyone like him.”

Boubacar Sylla

Shawn Porter was a victim of Crawford’s relentless determination in a 2021 defeat, and both fighters have known each other since they were teenagers on the amateur circuit. Porter points out that Crawford isolated himself from the other boxers in those days. In Porter’s opinion, making friends at that time could have diminished his competitive drive. Crawford failed to make the 2008 U.S. Olympic team, losing to Sadam Ali in 2007. However, Crawford was not affected because he believed his style in the ring was made for the professional ranks and world championships, not for fighting for points and Olympic medals. When he debuted as a professional in 2008, he didn’t receive the same expectation as peers like Adrien Broner and Russell, which only increased his ambition. After winning his first 19 fights, 15 by knockout, Crawford entered the national spotlight in 2013 when he stepped in with three days’ notice to face Breidis Prescott in his first televised fight in the co-main event of Brandon Rios-Mike Alvarado 2 on HBO. Crawford easily overcame Prescott, bigger and supposedly stronger, something Crawford had to overcome in his most important fights, and was determined to prove what he already thought: that he was the best fighter in the world.

“All I needed was an opportunity. Nobody knew who I was before that, and I made their heads spin with how easily I beat Prescott. Everyone was saying, ‘Damn, who is this guy?’ Now I needed to show them who I was.”

Terence Crawford

Crawford began his quest for world titles relying only on his trainers Brian “BoMac” McIntyre, Jacqui “Red” Spikes, Esau “El Tuto” Dieguez, his close friends, and training partners. Crawford viewed everyone outside that circle as enemies. Porter found out how difficult it was to be behind enemy lines. Although they were friendly before and after they fought, Porter remembers how Crawford created an atmosphere of aversion when approaching their 2021 matchup. Crawford later said he was only interested in fighting Porter to prove that calling him out was a painful mistake.

“I never wanted to fight Shawn Porter. Not because I thought he could beat me, but because we were friends who respected each other. But when he had the WBC title, he didn’t talk about fighting me.”

Terence Crawford

In the middle of this conversation, you can feel where the switch changes and Crawford takes it personally.

“I felt disrespected because I knew that [Porter’s promoter, Premier Boxing Champions] was just using me as a tool to gauge what a fight with [Errol] Spence and I would be like.”

Terence Crawford

His voice takes on a serious tone. “[I told Shawn]: ‘They’re using you as a pawn to see how well he would do against you compared to how you fought against Spence.’ It was as clear as day and it was in his face, but he insisted on fighting me. So I said, ‘Alright, let’s do it.’ And you saw what happened.” Crawford knocked out Porter and sent him into retirement. With each victory, Crawford rose in popularity and pound-for-pound rankings. From becoming the undisputed champion at junior welterweight by defeating Thomas Dulorme, Postol, and Julius Indongo to defeating Jeff Horn and Spence to win undisputed status at 147 pounds, Crawford began to earn the respect he believed he deserved a long time ago. However, despite receiving more love, he saw more enemies ahead. After demolishing Spence in 2023, Crawford needed to climb a new mountain. But it couldn’t be an average mountain in the 147-pound division, as he had already conquered the most difficult challenge in the weight category in Spence. He needed a Mount Everest, something considered too daunting, even for him. Initially, it seemed that Crawford would move up to 154 pounds and seek a fight with then-undisputed champion Jermell Charlo. However, once Charlo lost to Canelo, that fight was no longer attractive to Crawford. After a fight at 154 pounds, a decision victory over Israil Madrimov, Crawford turned his attention to Canelo.

“I didn’t investigate it much because of the weight difference. But once I started looking at it closer, I realized it wasn’t as big as everyone says.”

Terence Crawford

With the backing of boxing’s most powerful broker, Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, Crawford began to pursue a fight with Canelo. However, the more Canelo dismissed him as an option due to his size, the harder Crawford began to push for the fight. Crawford was ringside for Canelo’s September 2024 fight with Edgar Berlanga and connected to Instagram Live with Alalshikh to challenge the undisputed champion. Once again, he had something to prove and put Canelo directly in his sights. His incessant thirst for competition was in action again.

“Most of us have an on and off switch, and if you stay on too long, you burn out,” Porter said. “Bud doesn’t have an off switch. It’s incredible to see how he manages to stay on without needing a break.” Besides his competitive nature, Crawford is also extraordinarily well-prepared for his fights. He takes great care of his body and obsesses over the smallest details. And although he is a very athletic and remarkably strong switch-hitter, Crawford has never relied solely on his physical attributes to win fights.

“Every minute of a fight, he’s trying to make a statement,” said Ray Beltran, who lost a unanimous decision to Crawford but is one of only three opponents to have gone the distance with him since 2014. “He’s a special fighter, but you don’t realize it until you’re in the ring with him. He controls every aspect of the fight and is always one step ahead of you. From the way he cuts angles to his underrated footwork, he does almost everything to perfection. He’s the closest thing to [Floyd] Mayweather I’ve seen, but he’s much more dangerous.”

Ray Beltran

Beltran is closely following his former opponent since they fought and suggests that Crawford’s hunger for greatness, his extraordinary boxing IQ, and his insatiable appetite for destruction will be the reason he achieves the upset against Canelo.

“Crawford won’t enter the ring as a challenger because he fights like a hungry champion seeking legacy, not money. Canelo no longer fights with that same hunger. He may have fought against bigger and stronger fighters, but against no one with the skill, talent, and hunger that Crawford has.”

Ray Beltran

Facing his fight with Canelo, Crawford truly believes the deck is once again stacked against him. Aside from the weight difference, Crawford is a +140 underdog, according to ESPN BET. Crawford expects to be in enemy territory at Allegiant Stadium on Mexican Independence Day weekend.

“I have his people against me and my own people against me. Some people just don’t want to see you rise and pray for your downfall. That’s what drives me. I have supporters, but I listen more to those who hate.”

Terence Crawford

Canelo has routinely downplayed Crawford as a great fighter who has yet to face an “elite” opponent. Of course, Canelo identifies himself as “elite.” And that’s all Crawford needed to hear to make an enemy of someone who doubts him. Now Crawford has a point to prove, but how will he beat Canelo? “Canelo lost before, so he understands how to lose. I don’t.”