Brian Norman Jr believes Terence Crawford will capitalise on 'declining' Canelo Alvarez

WBO welterweight world champion Brian Norman Jr has weighed-in on this year's colossal showdown between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford, claiming the Mexican's 'decline' will ultimately prove his downfall.

The two pound-for-pound stars will lock-horns in a true boxing superfight in September, with Crawford - yet to be beaten in his professional career - jumping up three weight classes to tackle Canelo for all the super-middleweight marbles.

The 34-year-old has understandably been installed as favourite ahead of the showdown, largely owing to his obvious size and strength advantage, but the American challenger has his backers too, with Norman Jr being just one of those championing his claims.

Having already established himself as a full four-belt ruler at super-lightweight and welterweight, Crawford will bid to dethrone 168lbs king Canelo and capture undisputed glory in a third division - a feat that would serve to further cement the Nebraskan's boxing legacy.

Norman Jr, who was a target for Josh Taylor prior to his shock defeat against Ekow Essuman this past weekend, believes his compatriot will ultimately go on to defy the odds, citing Canelo's somewhat downward trajectory as a key factor behind his prediction.

"I feel like just over time... he's on the decline," he told The Ring Magazine.

Lately, he been having the silk sheets and silk this and silk that, and it's like he don't want it as bad as he used to.

- Brian Norman Jr (The Ring Magazine)

"Just because you made weight and you got this and you got that, that don't mean nothing. Push yourself how you used to. So, Canelo my dog, but lately he been slipping.

"He's not doing the stuff he used to do - him versus (Miguel) Cotto is my favorite Canelo fight. He had the head movement, the feet, the defense; he was literally doing all the combos."

He added: "The crazy part is I'm actually a Canelo fan as well!"

Alvarez was uninspiring as he laboured to a dour points victory over William Scull on his Riyadh Season bow earlier this month, somewhat justifying Norman Jr's claims that the Mexican's best days could in fact be behind him.

In fact, the only drama in Saudi Arabia that night came moments after the final bell had tolled when Crawford took centre stage to stare down Canelo to officially tee-up their hugely-anticipated September 13 showdown.

"I was watching the fight and fell asleep and then the next thing I know, I wake up and it's Terence Crawford and Canelo in the ring with each other," Norman Jr, who will take on Jin Sasaki in Tokyo in June, added.

"I didn't know what was going on, but I went back and watched the highlights of the fight, to find out there was no highlights.

"I know for a fact (Terence) Crawford is not going for that. He is another one of those disciplined fighters along with Floyd Mayweather, Bernard Hopkins, Marvin Hagler that are just straight disciplined to the game of boxing year-round.

"So, I feel he definitely got the attitude and mentality to go out there and beat Canelo."

Mark Mothershaw

• Canelo Alvarez v Terence Crawford
• Canelo Alvarez
• Terence Crawford
• Riyadh Season
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