Las Vegas – it’s time to have a solemn conversation about where Terence Crawford belongs to the conversation of the greatest fighters of all time.
37 -year -old Crawford thoroughly outclassed Canelo Alvarez and won the unanimous victory of the decision on the undisputed master of super medium weight. Along with winning, Crawford enters the exclusive club as the first boxer for men in the era of four stripes, which obtained the undisputed status in three weight classes (younger welterweight weight, welterweight weight and super average weight). If he decides to hang gloves after Saturday’s performance (and who could blame him if he did) he would retire with a 42-0 record with 31 knockouts, a five-time world champion (unquestioned in three) and victory over a man commonly considered the face of boxing with relative ease.
It was a completely different performance than a one -sided hit he gave to Errol Spence Jr. In 2023, which was his best work in the fight against Canelo. This time, instead of sending an opponent violently, Crawford professionally flew over the Mexican superstar and left him in disbelief when the rounds passed. Although the performance can be compared to the one which Floyd Mayweather delivered to 23-year-old Canelo in 2013, the Saturday win could be more impressive. Crawford confused his opponent with a sleek leg work, a constant stab, a scintilizing combination of impact and a solid chin.
“I think Crawford is much better than Floyd Mayweather,” said Canelo at the PostFight press conference. If Mayweather is considered the best of this generation and is in his place as one of the greatest fighters of all time, what does this mean for Crawford?
It certainly must be in a conversation after what Canelo did.
Fighting Pride of Omaha, Nebraska, is the first warrior since Dingaan “Rose” Thobeli, who won the world titles in lightweight (135 pounds) and Superm in medium weight (168 pounds) and has a judge fight for his opponent in his 17-year professional career. Mayweather did not reach this feat despite the retirement of 50-0. But it’s not necessarily about comparing Crawford from Mayweather; It’s about comparing Crawford with all the elite fighters of his generation who live on Mount Rushmore or nearby. If he is not at the top, he is.
First of all, he is a winner. Secondly, he wins in different ways. He can distribute a violent beating – like Spence, Amir Khan and Jeff Horn – or may fly the opposition – as Canelo and Viktor Postol proved. There is not much that he cannot do and showed every aspect of his game against Canelo. Nothing stopped him: no weight, age or skills. He is one of the best pound fighters for pounds we’ve ever seen.
Crawford would not go until the statement that after Saturday he would retire boxing, but he did not have much to prove. He did all this and left few doubts about what he could not do. Many thought he was over his head when he entered the ring against the background of voracious boos, a largely professional accident, and left four more lanes when Canelo and his fans hugged their heads in disbelief.
“I do not intend to rub it in the face of everyone,” said Crawford at ESPN at the PostFight press conference before I pointed to the lanes. “I have all the evidence that I need here on this table.”
Who will dare to deny him now?