Just last week, Terence Crawford had set a catchweight of 158 pounds or 160 pounds maximum to possibly have a mega fight with Canelo Alvarez.
But as the pound-for-pound great thought about it some more, he’s having a change of heart.
Appearing on “The Joe Rogan Experience,” Crawford is now saying that he’s willing to fight the winner of the September 30 bout between Alvarez, the undisputed super middleweight world champion, and Jermell Charlo. That’d mean Crawford climbing up three weight classes from 147 pounds to 168 pounds and vying to become boxing’s only undisputed champion in three different divisions.
Crawford had intended to fight Charlo, the undisputed junior middleweight champion, at 154 pounds, but it has already been ruled that the minute Charlo fights Alvarez that he will no longer be undisputed champ as the WBO will strip him of the title.
That’s part of what prompted Crawford to have a change of heart and possibly fight at 168 pounds next.
“It’s greatness. This is my era and I’m taking it. Ain’t nobody gonna stop me,” Crawford began telling Rogan.
“Now that I’ve switched gears, I know I wanted to fight Jermell but if he loses to Canelo — I’ve always said that’s a big step.
“That’s a big step but for a person to go up three weight classes from 147 to 168 and to win and to become undisputed ... wow. What can they say?”
He added: “What would they say?”
Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) has already experienced rare air in boxing as one of only two boxers — Claressa Shields being the other — to reach undisputed championship glory in two different divisions. Crawford achieved the feat at 140 pounds and as of late last month, 147 pounds as the reigning welterweight king.
Becoming an undisputed champion in a third weight class would have him accomplishing something that nobody has ever done before.
“Bud” can already picture it.
“Three-time undisputed champion and the smaller fighter that went up three weight divisions to conquer one of the baddest men — besides himself —that’s been doing it for probably longer than me,” Crawford said envisioning what it would mean for his legacy to defeat Alvarez.
When Rogan asked for a clarification about the weight, Crawford doubled down and specified that he’s willing to go up to 168 pounds.
“If [Alvarez] wins. Or Charlo. The winner,” Crawford insisted about who he wants to fight next toward an unprecedented slice of boxing history.
“I want to be three-time undisputed.”
Crawford followed up his appearance on Rogan's show with the following message for good measure: