CANELO ALVAREZ believes Terence Crawford is a BETTER fighter than Floyd Mayweather – the man who handed him his first-ever loss.
The Mexican superstar was outclassed over 12 rounds – while only 23 years old.
Fast forward 12 years and Canelo once again faces another undefeated American in Las Vegas – this time Crawford.
The mega-fight – – has drawn comparisons between Canelo’s fight with Mayweather over a decade ago.
But he said: “I think Crawford is better than Mayweather because he turns his guard to both sides, he’s more intelligent.
“I think he’s better than Floyd Mayweather. That’s what I think.”;
bounced back from defeat to – who retired at 50-0 in 2017 – to carve out a Hall of Fame career.
But the harrowing points loss is not the the only reason four-division champion Canelo improved so vastly.
He said: “I learned in every single fight not just in the Mayweather fight but I learned everything and for every fight.
“I’m gonna put all my experience there because I’m gonna need it.”;
Canelo, 34, defends the super-middleweight titles he regained by beating Cuban William Scull, 32, in May in Riyadh.
Crawford, 37, meanwhile returns for the first time since beating Israil Madrimov, 30, last August to win the 154lb WBA title.
He is unbeaten at 41-0 having won belts from lightweight to super-welterweight – now attempting to become undisputed champ at THREE weights.
And Canelo admitted: “He can use both guards. He can do everything he can counterpunch, move around, he’s a complete fighter.
“He’s gonna be a difficult fight but you know it’s nothing new for me.”;
