Why Does Terence Crawford Think That Ryan Garcia Can’t Beat Shakur Stevenson?

Ryan Garcia (25-2, 20 KOs) might have won the WBC welterweight title after his recent showdown against Mario Barrios (29-3-2, 18 KOs). However, this might not guarantee him a smooth ride against Shakur Stevenson (25-0, 11 KOs), or so says Terence Crawford.

Talking to DAZN PPV after Garcia-Barrios, Crawford weighed in on how ‘KingRy’ would potentially fare against Stevenson.

“I think Shakur wipes the floor with Ryan. I don’t think Ryan is going to be able to hit Shakur like Barrios. Barrios was right there to be hit,” he said. “Barrios was too slow and didn’t have a gameplan. Barrios followed Ryan the whole fight. Shakur is not a fighter who gets hit. It’s simple.”

Crawford’s belief certainly has some meat to its bones. Garcia would most definitely struggle to land on Stevenson because their styles clash in a way that favours the latter’s strengths. Stevenson controls distance at an elite level, keeping an extremely tight defensive structure, in turn making opponents reach for shots that aren’t really there.  Garcia’s offense, on the other hand, depends on speed, timing, and getting close to dish out explosive punches.

In Crawford’s eyes (and in the eyes of the boxing community as a whole), Ring IQ and positioning consistently overshadows raw speed, effectively neutralizing Garcia’s best weapons. While he doesn’t disagree that Garcia is a phenomenal fighter, Crawford is sure that Stevenson might be too complex an opponent for him.

“I definitely think Ryan is going to have a lot of confidence, but at the same time, it’s different going up against a fighter like Shakur. It’s different with Shakur, mentally, emotionally, physically,” he said.

“Garcia Didn’t Beat Him”

Crawford further gave an example of the time the duo apparently faced each other as amateurs and highlighted how it was an example of how he’d fare.

“They’ve been in the ring together as amateurs, and Garcia didn’t beat him,” he said during the same interview. “So, what makes him think he’s going to beat Shakur as a professional?”

Joshua Ben Joseph

Joshua Ben Joseph is a Boxing writer renowned for his unparalleled coverage of live events and insightful interviews with prominent athletes in the world of combat sports. With a career spanning over several years, he has authored more than 800 articles. As an experienced editorial cartoonist and investigative journalist, Joshua has a keen eye for detail and a passion for delivering quality content. Aside from his writing, Joshua is an avid powerlifter and solo traveler, embodying the same spirit of determination and exploration that he brings to his work. With a deep love for the sport of boxing that dates back to childhood, he is committed to delivering the highest quality content and helping to build a more transparent and credible industry.

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