Is Crawford Carrying Water For Canelo? Critics Allege “Respect” Excuse Hides Alvarez’s Ducking Of Formidable Benavidez

Terence Crawford sounded like an apologist for Canelo Alvarez, putting a spin on why the superstar has chosen not to fight David Benavidez in favor of a clash against him instead.

The “Respect” Angle

Crawford says ‘The Mexican Monster’ “disrespected” Alvarez to the point where he wasn’t going to give him a “Payday.” However, Terence comes across like he’s just carrying the water for Canelo, using the “respect” angle as a smokescreen as cover for him ducking Benavidez and a near-certain embarrassing defeat.

All Benavidez has done is ask for the fight and say he thinks he can beat Canelo. This is the same exact stuff that Crawford was doing before he got picked as Alvarez’s opponent. He made the same remarks, yet he was still chosen. That’s how you know that Canelo ducked Benvidez. It’s not about respect.

It’s about Canelo avoiding competition. With Crawford, he’s an old, small guy who showed he can’t punch in moving up to 154 in his last fight last August. In other words, Crawford is safe. But with Benvidez, he’s got the size, youth, power, and combination punching to knock out Canelo and humiliate him in front of the entire civilized world.

Respect or Fear?

“I think Benavidez disrespected him to the point where, he don’t like him. Business-wise, it’s like, ‘I’m not going to give you that check. I’m not giving you that ticket.’ That’s why he said, ‘You want payday. You want payday,’” said Terence Crawford to the Pound 4 Pound Kamaru & Henry YouTube channel about why Canelo Alvarez has chosen not to fight David Benavidez.

“The belts don’t matter when you’re in his situation. Once you get to a certain peak in your career, you outgrow the belts. ‘I’m going to give you these belts.’ They’re going to come watch me regardless,” said Crawford, making excuses for Canelo ducking Benavidez.

Obviously, Canelo doesn’t care about the belts when it comes to Benavidez because he would likely vacate the WBC strap if the sanctioning body attempted to force him to take this fight when he was his mandatory challenger.