Khan picks a side

The highly anticipated bout between Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez and Terence Crawford, set for September 13 in Las Vegas, is getting closer—and with it, more voices from the boxing world are weighing in. This time it was Amir Khan, former British world champion, who made his stance clear: he’s backing Crawford.

“There are weight classes for a reason in boxing, but I have great respect for Crawford for showing the courage to step into the ring with a beast like Canelo. Maybe he sees something others don’t—maybe he thinks Canelo is past his best,” Khan told The Ring.

No doubt about his pick

Khan, who was knocked out by Canelo in 2016 and dominated by Crawford in 2019, knows both fighters well. And despite acknowledging the Mexican’s power, he’s siding with the American: “I’m supporting my friend Terence Crawford. I think he can do it. His boxing IQ is perfect—he sees everything in the ring and knows how to adjust. People don’t give him enough credit for his punching power. He may not look like it, but he hits hard.”

Still, Khan knows it won’t be easy: “Obviously, Canelo is the more powerful fighter. But if anyone can catch him at the right time, it’s Crawford.”

A career-defining fight?

All the super middleweight belts will be on the line, and this fight could be a turning point for both men. If Crawford manages to dethrone the Mexican icon, he could cement his place in boxing history. For now, Amir Khan has made his pick.