“Benavidez Ain’t Beating No Bud Crawford At 168”

Tim Bradley says David Benavidez would lose to undisputed super middleweight champion Terence Crawford if he were to maneuver back right down to 168.

Crawford’s Complexity Factor

Bradley states that he re-watched Benavidez’s fight against former IBF 168-lb champion Caleb Plant from March 2023, and believes Crawford is simply too complex for him. He’d benefit from the mistakes that he made in his fight with Plant to defeat him.

The Weight Drain Problem

It might be difficult for Benavidez (30-0, 24 KOs) to return to 168, as he’s been campaigning at 175 since 2024. Draining back right down to his old weight class at super middleweight would take loads out of him.

“If Benavidez was at 168 again, he ain’t beating no Bud Crawford. Nope, he ain’t beating Crawford,” said Tim Bradley on his channel. “Shakur was right. He at all times said it. ‘Benavidez can’t beat him.’”

If Benavidez fought as poorly as he did in the primary five rounds against Caleb Plant in 2023, Crawford would have an excellent shot at beating him. The issue is, Crawford isn’t as big, young, or dangerous enough on offense to get away with what Plant was against Benavidez.

Crawford doesn’t like getting hit and would take fewer risks to land his shots in comparison with what Plant was doing in his loss to Benavidez. All of the running around Crawford did in his narrow win over Canelo Alvarez on September thirteenth wouldn’t get the job done against ‘The Mexican Monster.’

Why Bud Would Make Him Pay

“The scale, though. It is a dude that knows how you can use his size, and he puts that pressure on you. He makes a number of mistakes. Any person with the complexity of Crawford goes to see all of the mistakes and make him pay for them. And, it’s all about making him pay often. I’d never bet against Crawford because I do know what that man is fabricated from,” said Benavidez.

Crawford wasn’t taking probabilities against the low-output Canelo, and he would should throw more punches if he fought Benavidez if he desired to win. The hit and run wouldn’t get the job done for Bud. It might be admirable if Terence were to fight aggressively like he did against Israil Madrimov and Errol Spence.

We didn’t see that version of Crawford within the Canelo fight, and we’d see even less against Benavidez on account of his size and volume.

Dan Ambrose has followed boxing since 2011, sharing his passion for the game’s biggest stars and battles.