Former World Champion James Toney Makes KO Prediction For Canelo vs Crawford: “Trust Me”

Former middle, super-middle and light-heavyweight world champion James Toney has little doubt as to how Saul ‘Canelo‘ Alvarez’ fight with Terence Crawford plays out later this year.

Toney held the IBF title at 168 pounds back in 1993, a belt Canelo would pick up 28 years later against Caleb Plant to become undisputed in the division. He has since vacated it, but will have a chance to win it back against William Scull in two months.

He is then set to welcome Crawford to the weight class. The American will be packing on 14 pounds for the challenge – a weight jump many in the sport feel is a step too far against a fighter like Canelo.

That does not include Toney, who has previously branded Crawford ‘unbeatable.’ Speaking to AB Boxing News, he said it would be an easy win for his countryman.

“Easy win [for Crawford]. Easy win. Trust me … Canelo is a good fighter, but he’s not on James Toney’s level.”

Going further in an interview with ES News, Toney backed the knockout for ‘Bud.’

The retired three-weight world champion has never been overly complimentary of Alvarez, frequently claiming that he would run through him easily had they been matched up prime for prime, as well as saying the Mexican superstar would not be as successful in era gone by.

That debate will remain forever unanswered, but the Crawford prediction is set to be put to the test this September in Las Vegas, provided Canelo comes through his unification bout with William Scull on May 3 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.