In just one fight, the perception surrounding Canelo Alvarez has changed.

The 35-year-old still found a way to beat William Scull on May 3 at ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, but he looked slower, not as powerful, and seemingly forgot how to close the distance.

Although he’ll enjoy a weight advantage over Terence Crawford this upcoming weekend, his listless performance against Scull has altered the narrative, at least to a certain degree.

Alvarez (63-2-2, 39 KOs) is still favored by oddsmakers ever so slightly, but some point to the razor-close decision he picked up as a cause to pause. Andre Ward though, isn’t buying it.

“If you think Canelo Alvarez is going to look the way he did in his last fight against this guy [Terence Crawford], you’re sadly mistaken,” Ward told Chris Mannix.

In just a few more days, on Sept. 13, Ward will be ringside calling their showdown at Allegiant Stadium. Their matchup, streamed worldwide on Netflix, will have Alvarez’s Ring, IBF, WBA, WBC, and WBO 168-pound titles on the line.

Ward, who knows a thing or two about moving up in weight, believes Alvarez was playing a game of cat and mouse. Prior to facing Scull, a deal was already in place to face Crawford (41-0, 31 KOs). All Alvarez had to do was win.

Before the opening bell rang, Crawford, who beat Israil Madrimov last August for the WBA 154-pound title, grabbed a ringside seat and watched Alvarez closely. He was hoping the Mexican star found a way to win, but was unsure considering the closeness of the rounds.

Once his victory was made official, the Omaha, Nebraska native entered the ring to face off. From Ward’s point of view, everything was calculated. With Alvarez knowing a big fight was ahead, he simply didn’t want to pull out all the tricks in front of his upcoming opponent.

“I know you’re ringside,” Ward continued when stating what Alvarez’s thought process was against Scull with Crawford in attendance. “I know it’s close, but I'll do enough to win and see you September 13th.”

Many point to Crawford moving up two weight divisions, especially without a warm-up fight, as a potential key factor dictating how this weekend's contest plays out. Ward hears the noise, though feels Crawford's decision to face Alvarez was calculated.

"I don't think Crawford would've took this fight if he didn’t think he could win. I truly don't believe that Terence believes anybody can beat him, you got to show him," he added.