Shawn Porter has faced off against Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford, experienced the fierce impact of his punches firsthand, and witnessed his own retirement at Crawford’s hands. Yet, during Crawford’s training camp in preparation for Saturday’s bold face-off with Canelo Alvarez in Las Vegas, Porter couldn’t help but notice the noticeable change in Crawford’s physique. No longer just the lean strategist who defeated him in 2021, Crawford appeared more formidable and muscular, ready to make history.

Crawford, at 37, is moving up two entire weight classes to challenge Alvarez in the super-middleweight category, a division dominated by the Mexican for years. This ambitious move has sparked differing opinions within the boxing community, with some doubting whether Crawford, who only claimed the undisputed title at 154lbs last year, can effectively maintain his power and resilience at 168. However, Porter, having grown into both a friend and admirer after their fight, asserts that Crawford’s transformation has been meticulously planned.

“Most boxers steer clear of weightlifting; it’s almost a taboo in boxing,” Porter clarified. “But to gain weight effectively, it must be muscle you’re adding. You can’t afford to add fat or anything that slows you down. The smartest approach is weightlifting combined with high protein intake. I’ve seen him eat – he’s handling it perfectly. It often takes a solid two years to gain 10 pounds and allow your body to adjust. So, the discussion around his 13-month inactivity overlooks the fact that he’s been preparing for this challenge against Canelo all along.”

Porter’s observations in the training camp affirm Crawford’s readiness. “I noticed the change in his legs, arms, and shoulders. The muscle gain is well-balanced. Many boxers tend to carry more weight in their lower bodies, but Crawford has optimized his muscle distribution in vital areas – chest, abs, arms. His strength will be up to par.”

This confidence is vital considering Crawford’s performance in his last fight. His decision victory over Israil Madrimov in August 2024 wasn’t his best: he seemed slower, less nimble, sometimes hesitant against a constant onslaught. This prompted concerns about whether age and additional weight were diminishing his prowess. But Porter highlights that Crawford identified this issue well before the critics did.

Shawn Porter (pictured above) was stunned when he visited Terence Crawford’s camp before Saturday’s clash with Canelo Alvarez

Crawford, 37, is stepping up two full weight classes to meet Alvarez at super-middleweight, a division the Mexican has ruled for years

“He mentioned to Shakur Stevenson, ‘I need to focus more on my boxing skills. I’ve been too focused on knockouts; it’s time to refine my boxing,’ Porter shared. “Crawford understands he hasn’t been executing his full range of movement – those quick steps, lateral movements. Against Madrimov, the style caught him off guard initially, but once he adapted, he secured the win.”

‘When we spoke, he said he just didn’t care in that fight. This is the fight where he has to care. He knows it’s not going to be one punch. It’s going to be a round-by-round fight, the kind he hasn’t been in for a very long time.’

The question, of course, is whether Crawford can hurt Alvarez. No fighter has ever stopped the Mexican, who boasts granite resistance built over 19 years and nearly 70 professional bouts. Porter, however, believes Crawford’s unusual delivery – that whipping, snapping motion of his punches – is precisely what could cause problems. 

‘His delivery is unique. Some of his punches have this whipping action. He turns them over so they land just right, and he has the accuracy too. If anything is going to get Canelo’s attention, that’s it. I believe he has what it takes to stop him.’

For Alvarez, at 35, there is another layer of intrigue: whether the signs of slippage that have crept into recent performances are more than just perception. He is still the sport’s most bankable attraction, still a man with victories over Gennady Golovkin, Miguel Cotto, Sergey Kovalev and Caleb Plant.

Yet Porter insists the decline has begun, however subtle. ‘Almost 70 fights… it’s impossible to be the same as you were when you had 50. Respectfully, it’s impossible. Canelo used to be an A-plus fighter. 

Crawford (above) poses for photographers after defeating Shawn Porter by TKO

Despite losing to their contest, Porter (left) remains good friends with Crawford (right)

‘Now he’s an A-minus. Still better than 98 per cent of fighters, but if you have trained eyes, you can see it. Since the Plant fight, he’s shifted his style, conserving energy, pushing when he wants to. That worked because opponents had fear. Crawford won’t show him that fear.’

And so on Saturday night at Allegiant Stadium, with more than 60,000 expected under the lights of Las Vegas, Crawford will step into the unknown. He is chasing greatness, chasing size, chasing history. 

Porter has seen the work behind the scenes and has no doubt about his old rival’s readiness. ‘He’s done it the right way,’ Porter said. ‘The weight is all muscle. He’s prepared for this moment.’