AMIR KHAN fears Canelo Alvarez has lost his hunger for boxing – leaving Terence Crawford ready to feast.
Canelo defends his undisputed super-middleweight titles against Crawford on Saturday night – which will be the 68th bout of his iconic career.
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The red-haired boxing hero – who was bullied for his ginger hair earning him the nickname Canelo, which translates to cinnamon in Spanish – turned pro aged just 15.
And now two decades later the 35-year-old is the sport’s top attraction.
He is on course to become a BILLIONAIRE and has world titles in four division’s clogging up his trophy cabinet.
So Khan – who was beaten in his retirement fight against Kell Brook in 2022 – reckons Canelo has lost the same fire which burnt him in their 2016 clash.
Khan, 38, told SunSport: “I think that Crawford takes the fight in my opinion.
“I like Canelo and he’s very respectful but the reason why I think this is because Crawford’s a fresher fighter.
“I’ve just started seeing little things in Canelo in the last couple of fights where he moves more.
“I just don’t think he’s got the fire in the belly like he used to or have that killer instinct like before.
Canelo vs Crawford – All the info
IT’S finally time – one of the biggest boxing matches EVER takes place THIS WEEKEND.
Two of boxing’s GOATs will meet in the ring as they fight for pound-for-pound supremacy and the super-middleweight crown.
Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Terence Crawford have been fixtures in the top of the rankings for years and are considered among the best to ever do it.
Unbeaten Crawford, who beat Israil Madrimov to win the light-middleweight title last time out, hasn’t fought for a year.
He is jumping up two weight divisions to meet Canelo, having spent most of his career weighing in even lighter.
Mexican favourite Canelo has scored title defences over Edgar Berlanga and William Scull since Crawford was last inside a ring.
Here’s all the info for this must-watch fight…
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CANELO VS CRAWFORD: ALL THE DETAILS YOU NEED AHEAD OF THE FIGHT OF THE CENTURY
“I don’t think he has that killer instinct now. Normally they have that killer instinct where they wanna go for the kill and hurt the guy, but I think he’s calm and he’s a made man.
“I know how that is. Like when I fought against Brook, you don’t have that fire in your belly like you are coming up and you wanna achieve something.
“You know when you’ve achieved everything – which Canelo in my opinion has when it comes down to belts, titles, and also weight categories and also financially – that fire in the belly just goes and I know you might say that it might not go, it’s automatically it’s gonna happen.
“Your mind’s a very strong muscle that it just takes over your whole body.”
Khan boxed to an early lead against Canelo almost ten years ago – before a frightening right hand in the sixth robbed him of his momentum and senses.
The former super-lightweight champ was caught so hard he was out for the count well before the he even hit the deck.
Khan said: “I don’t know if he’s got the same kind of power that he had then, but in my opinion, he does hit very, very hard.
“I mean, even before I hit the floor, I was probably knocked out, to be honest with you. That’s how hard he hit me. So that just shows pure power.
“The guy’s very strong and he can definitely hurt someone really badly. But like I said, I don’t know how much power he has left in him now.
“Obviously, as you get older, the power’s not gonna be the same, but I’m sure it’s still very strong.”
Crawford, 37, beat a past-his best Khan in 2019 but the pair reunited as training partners three years later before the Brook grudge bout.
That was at the 10st 7lb welterweight limit – but Crawford now finds himself up THREE divisions to challenge for Canelo’s 12st throne.
I just don’t think he’s got the fire in the belly like he used to or have that killer instinct like before.
Amir Khan on Canelo
But Khan – who had Crawford in the corner the night he lost to Brook – warned the unbeaten American can hang with the biggest and best of them.
He said: “Crawford is a bigger guy in camp. He’s always a stronger and bigger guy. I’ve seen him take down heavyweights.
“The guy, he’s a good wrestler and also he’s just a very strong guy. He’s got a strong upper body.
“So yeah, I don’t think anyone’s gonna give him any problems, especially Canelo, I don’t think Canelo’s gonna give him any problems.
“Look, you make them wrestle, I guarantee you Crawford will take Canelo down easy. That’s how strong he is.
“He’s a very good strong wrestler as well. But obviously that shows how much strength he has, core strength is solid. He’s a solid guy.”
The pound-for-pound greats meet at the Las Vegas Raiders’ 65,000-seat NFL stadium – streamed live on Netflix.
It has the hallmarks of a bonafide super-fight for the ages – one Khan reckons cannot disappoint.
He said: It’s gonna be a fantastic fight though still regardless because one thing I can say about both fighters is that they’re not gonna sit back and they’re not gonna put on a performance, they’re gonna fight till they die.
“But I just feel that Crawford has that little bit more than Canelo.”