Amir Khan, the only man to have been smashed by both Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford, has made his prediction for the September 13 super-middleweight fight in Las Vegas—and he’s backing his “boy” Crawford to get it done. Brave? Delusional? Depends how you look at it. But Khan’s been in with both and says he felt Crawford’s power more than most give credit for.
The man who got flatlined by both makes his pick
Khan, who was left flatlined by Canelo in 2016 and stopped by Crawford in 2019 after a towel and a questionable low blow, told The Ring he’s siding with the smaller man. “I have huge respect for Crawford,” he said. “There are weight divisions for a reason, but maybe Crawford sees something in Canelo. Maybe he’s past his sell-by date.”
Canelo will defend his undisputed super-middleweight titles at Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas. Crawford, stepping up from 147 pounds to a full-blown 168, is skipping an entire weight class like it’s a Sunday jog. His only fight above welterweight was a slick win over Madrimov at 154.
Yet Khan’s doubling down: “Crawford hits harder than people think. He hit me hard. His IQ is perfect. Canelo’s stronger, obviously, but Crawford can still hurt him. He can push him back.”
Push Canelo back? At 168? That’s a big ask, even if you’re best mates with the guy.
Is Khan’s pick loyalty or lunacy?
It’s hard to ignore Khan’s bias. He calls Crawford a “good friend,” backed him as a cornerman in his sad last outing against Kell Brook in 2022, and probably still has Canelo’s uppercut playing on repeat in his nightmares. Still, his take isn’t totally off.
Crawford’s got elite timing, footwork, and that spiteful streak. He’s made killers like Spence and Porter look basic. But Canelo’s been feasting on bigger men for a decade. He crushed Callum Smith, folded Billy Joe, walked down GGG.
Is Crawford slick enough to outbox the heavier man? Probably. Is he sturdy enough to survive 12 rounds without getting walked onto a left hook from hell? That’s the bit that’ll separate genius from martyrdom.
Fight Info
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Main Event: Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford – 12 rounds, undisputed super middleweight championship
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Date: Friday, 13 September 2025
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Venue: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas
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Start Time: 8 p.m. ET 🇺🇸 / 1 a.m. BST 🇬🇧
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Streaming: Live on DAZN PPV