In his latest training footage, Terence Crawford looks to be on target to carry strength and explosiveness up to 168 pounds against Canelo Alvarez. Crawford is seen wearing a weighted vest strapped around the torso and additional ankle weights. That combination displays deliberate resistance, the type of training that prioritizes strength endurance and explosive movement under fatigue. Crawford’s midsection looks lean but not drawn, suggesting the usual weight cut leading up to fight week will be minimal.
Following the win over Israil Madrimov, Crawford’s trainer Bomac McIntyre hinted the strategy against Canelo would focus on movement. But this type of training points to a strategy shift: preparing to absorb and return fire in high-contact exchanges, or to bully an opponent physically instead of relying solely on his counterpunching mastery. The ankle weights hint at an emphasis on lower-body strength for leverage and balance, a critical need for holding ground or pushing back a naturally bigger foe.
For a fighter praised for his adaptability, these curated camp photos look like Crawford is crafting a version of himself that’s harder to move, harder to fatigue, and surprisingly more dangerous up close. He’s building a frame and engine designed to Canelo his biggest challenge thus far at super middleweight.
Canelo vs. Crawford airs live on Netflix September 13. Tickets are available on Ticketmaster. Stay tuned to BeatsBoxingMayhem.com for exclusive coverage leading to the event.
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