Crawford’s ‘Injury’ Exposes Canelo’s Skill Level

“Where do I got a shoulder injury? I don’t know. I think people coming up with they own antics. ‘Terence Crawford got a shoulder injury, Terence Crawford out of shape, Terence Crawford slow.’ They coming up with all kinds of stuff,” Crawford said 

Crawford Reacts

Looking back, Crawford was unlikely to admit that he was suffering from something that would have boosted Canelo’s camp. However, when he was asked about his condition heading into the fight, Bud told Andre Ward he was not 100 percent. 

“You’re not never gonna go into camp and come out 100% healthy. And a lot of people is asking me, ‘How did I feel?’ Man, I had a lot going on in camp. This fight, the last fight, the fight before… Like, injuries too. Injuries, too,” Crawford stated

The news that Terence Crawford was not 100% magnifies the impressive nature of his victory. The first difficulty was the monumental challenge of jumping two weight classes to face the undisputed king. In addition, a shoulder injury directly compromises the mechanics for generating power, the endurance needed to maintain a high punch rate, and the ability to keep a high, solid defensive guard.

For Crawford to perform a masterclass, neutralizing Canelo’s body attack and out-landing him consistently, while concealing the potential vulnerability of his shoulder, highlights his mental fortitude. It silences critics who might have downplayed the win by suggesting Canelo was “washed” or simply had a bad night after Canelo’s own news that he will have shoulder surgery after the Crawford loss.