Canelo Alvarez Calls Out Terence Crawford, Says He Hasn't Beaten Any 'Elite' Fighters

Despite Terence Crawford’s flawless 41-0 record, Canelo Alvarez remains unimpressed with the current unified welterweight and WBA junior middleweight champion.

The two legendary fighters are set to square off on September 13 in Las Vegas, under Dana White’s new Zuffa Boxing league, operating under the TKO banner and tensions are starting to run high as careers are on the line.

"He's a great fighter, but if you look up his career, mention one elite fighter," Alvarez said on the G.O.A.T.S podcast. "Just mention me one elite fighter."

In response, Crawford rattled off names he believed were universally elite.

“So (Viktor) Postol wasn’t elite?” Crawford asked Alvarez, who responded with, “Who’s that?” Unfazed, Crawford continued, “Oh, so he wasn’t commercialized, he wasn’t (elite)? Ricky Burns wasn’t elite?”

Alvarez dismissed both as elite opponents at the time Crawford faced them, drawing a distinction between good fighters, champions and what he considers truly elite—something he believes Crawford has yet to face.

Still, Crawford tipped his cap, saying he’ll finally be fighting an elite opponent in September when the two square off.

Alvarez, however, wasn’t buying into the respect, telling Crawford he hoped he was getting paid enough—because it would be his last fight.

Canelo had the last laugh, adding, “after fighters face me, they’re never the same. So I just hope your career continues afterward.”