Terence Crawford had a tongue-in-cheek response to rumours that he is battling a shoulder injury this week, as his super-fight with Canelo Alvarez looms.

On Saturday, at Las Vegas’s Allegiant Stadium, Crawford will aim to become the first three-weight undisputed champion of the modern era, as he challenges Canelo at super-middleweight.

Ahead of the bout, which sees Crawford hit a career-highest weight, rumours have circulated that he is struggling with a shoulder problem. But the American, 37, seemed to dismiss any worries while playfully addressing the topic on Wednesday.

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“Yeah, my shoulder’s messed up everyone,” Crawford told reporters, tongue in cheek, at a pre-fight media day. “Don’t tell Canelo!

“Maybe the left, maybe the right, maybe both of them. I’m having problems with my shoulders.

“Shhh, keep that under wraps.”

Mexico’s Canelo, 35, previously reigned as undisputed king at super-middleweight before regaining that status in May, when he laboured to a decision win over William Scull. With that, he set up Saturday’s main event.

Meanwhile, Crawford has held world titles at four weights – like Canelo – and been undisputed at two: super-lightweight and welterweight.

Last time out, in August 2024, “Bud” hit a career-highest weight of 154lb, where he dethroned Israil Madrimov, though he did not impress in the way he so often has in the past. Now, he jumps up another two divisions to face Canelo.

“Listen, like I said before, we’re not gonna talk about the past,” Crawford said on Wednesday, addressing his performance against Madrimov and some criticism of his physique at 168lb. “We’re gonna talk about the present and future. His last fight wasn’t spectacular either.”

Crawford previously said he was “70 per cent” sure he would beat Canelo, but he joked on Wednesday, “I’m 1,000 per cent sure now,” before explaining his true feelings.

“You’ve gotta think: going into a fight, you don’t know what’s gonna happen,” he said. “You could get injuries, he could get injuries, there’s so many things that go on in a boxing match: the judges, the referee, everything, the preparation. So, you’re not 100 per cent sure. If a boxer says they’re 1000 per cent [sure], they’re lying.”

Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford could be forced to adjust their game plan after the judges for their upcoming bout were announced.

Both Canelo and Crawford are preparing for their September 13 fight, which is predicted by many to go to a decision after a long fight.

Three judges have been appointed to oversee the fight and declare a winner if the bout goes all 12 rounds without a knockout.

READ: Crowd anoints villain before Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford fight

In an interesting turn of events, the same judges oversaw one of the most controversial decisions this year, as they declared Manny Pacquiao’s comeback fight a draw despite opposition from many in the boxing world.

The three judges who scored Manny Pacquiao vs Mario Barrios will judge Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford

The three judges who will adjudicate the fight between Canelo and Crawford were announced this week, with Tim Cheatham, Max DeLuca, and Steve Weisfield scoring the bout.

These names may seem familiar, as they are the same three judges who oversaw Manny Pacquiao’s draw with Mario Barrios earlier this year.

In Pacquiao’s comeback fight, the Filipino thought he had done enough to beat the WBC Welterweight champion, but was dismayed when the judges declared the fight a draw after 12 rounds.

They were hammered for scoring the fight a tie when numerous ex-fighters and pundits thought that the eight-weight champion did enough to take home his 13th world title, as he scored more power punches but was susceptible to Barrios’s jabs throughout the fight.

Appointing Cheatham, DeLuca, and Weisfield so early has made it clear what the fight will be based on and how it will be scored, days before the fighters set foot into the ring.

While they will be hoping to avoid any controversy like the Pacquiao bout, the scoring in that fight could hint at what Canelo and Crawford should do to get the best result on Saturday night.

Their style of judging could heavily impact Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford’s style in the fight

The way the Pacquiao-Barrios fight was scored can give some insights into what Canelo and Crawford need to do to impress the judges on Saturday.

The trio scored that fight a draw, partially due to the energy and stamina that Barrios brought in the final rounds of the fight.

While Pacquiao controlled large parts of the bout, they judged Barrios’s ability to stay in the fight until the end as a key reason to score him higher.

This could benefit Crawford, who will hope to use his smaller frame to outwork Canelo, being unable to produce the power he is famous for at the heavier weight.

This could dissuade him from going for an early knockout and wearing himself out, as he will need to be in top shape throughout the fight to impress the trio at ringside.

However, all three judges are known for valuing control over aggression, which suits Canelo’s patient, surgical style of fighting.

Barrios’s use of the jab to try and keep Pacquiao at bay was heavily valued by Cheatham, DeLuca, and Weisfeld and could make the difference in this fight, too.

If he can dominate the ring and keep his work rate up the entire fight, there is a good chance the judges will declare Canelo the winner over Crawford on September 13.

Canelo Alvarez was nowhere to be found.

But his fans were, and Terence Crawford discovered that the loud way.

At Grand Arrivals for the two fighters, Crawford was greeted by loud boos on Tuesday, Sept. 9 at Fontainebleau Las Vegas hotel — early evidence Crawford will be treated like the villain when he and Alvarez fight on Saturday Sept. 13.

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As the boos continued, Crawford smiled.

“This ain’t nothing different than when I went to Scotland and fought Ricky Burns,’’ he told boxing analyst Max Kellerman during the livestreamed event.

Crawford was referring to 2014, when he traveled to Scotland to fight Scottish boxer Ricky Burns for the WBO world lightweight title. At the time, Crawford said he would silence the crowd on fight night. He did just that, beating Burns by unanimous decision and winning his first world title.

So for Crawford, who’s from Omaha, Nebraska, Las Vegas suddenly feels a little like Scotland.

Not for Alvarez.

The Mexican star is about 1,500 miles from his birthplace of Guadalajara, and once again his fans are expected to flock, this time to watch him defend his undisputed super middleweight championship. The bout will take place at Allegiant Stadium, home of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders, and be livestreamed by Netflix three days before Mexican Independence Day.

“They’re all going to be quiet come Saturday,’’ Crawford told Kellerman, and he later remarked, “I’ve been booed before. Hey, listen, they can’t fight for him, so it don’t matter.’’

Alvarez arrived about an hour later and there was no need to talk about boos.

In Spanish Alvarez told his backers, “I’m super grateful for all the support that you always provided to me.’’

The fighters are primed, the stage is set, and anticipation is at an all-time high.

On September 13, Canelo Alvarez will put his undisputed crown on the line against Terence Crawford at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. But in the lead-up to this blockbuster showdown, speculation has started to swirl around the two-division undisputed champion.

Crawford is stepping up two weight classes for this bout, and at 37, he isn’t immune to the wear and tear that comes with years of training. That has fueled online chatter, and an injury wouldn’t be all that surprising. The rumor mill gained momentum when Pound4Pound on X claimed to have heard from a close source about potential concerns in Crawford’s camp.

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What happened to Terence Crawford?

Pound4Pound reported on X, “I’m hearing from a close source that Terence Crawford’s shoulder, that he had surgery on, has been ‘flaring up’ in camp.” That kind of news, if true, could spell trouble for Crawford heading into fight week. The account further added, “Apparently, it has been a lingering issue for the past 8–10 weeks & is being monitored closely.” Naturally, the question followed—could this really be the case?

That’s where YouTuber Show Bizz the Adult stepped in. He quickly pointed to Crawford’s previously scrapped fight with Vergil Ortiz Jr., a matchup that His Excellency Turki Alalshikh himself had confirmed fell through because of injury. Bizz argued that Pound4Pound’s update carried some weight, especially given Crawford’s age and the physical demands of moving up two weight classes.

But boxing insider Rick Glasser soon shut the rumors down. “Clickbait! Absolutely not true,” he replied to the viral post. Meanwhile, Crawford’s team has chosen to remain silent, refusing to confirm or deny the speculation. Whether it’s genuine concern or just narrative-building ahead of fight night, some believe it’s little more than a ready-made excuse if Crawford falls short. Regardless, a former world champion thinks only this man will emerge victorious.

Roy Jones Jr. predicts Canelo Alvarez vs. Crawford

There’s perhaps no one better who understands what it takes to chase history across several weight classes like Hall of Famer Roy Jones Jr. Having won titles from middleweight to heavyweight, Jones sees similarities in Terence Crawford’s upcoming challenge against Canelo Alvarez. “Terence has been bulking up to the weight just like I did as a heavyweight,” Jones told The Ring.

“If he can deal with super middleweights and light heavyweights in training, you can deal with them in the fight,” he added. “The weight should not even be an issue … He’s a great small guy and a great small guy can do anything.” Meanwhile, he also had a warning for Canelo, noting, “If Canelo fights the absolute correct fight … he could be victorious. If he doesn’t, Crawford has six ways that he can win it.”

“If [Crawford] becomes a three-division undisputed champion,” Jones added, “you can put him in the conversation for one of the best ever, pound for pound.”

It appears the rumors about Terence Crawford’s shoulder are just that: a rumor. ‘Bud’ is presumably fine and ready for action. Roy Jones Jr. even feels the Nebraskan technician will bring the gold.