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.

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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.