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Crawford’s Mount Rushmore Test: Benavidez or Bivol

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Image: Terence Crawford's Legacy at Stake: The Benavidez Fight and All-Time Great Status

Roy Jones Jr. says that if Terence Crawford doesn’t have a rematch with Canelo Alvarez next, he’d like him to drop down to 160 pounds to win a world title and then retire.

Down is not the direction of legends

A move up to middleweight would give the 38-year-old Crawford (42-0, 31 KO) a chance to become a six-division world champion. It would be a move to cement his legacy, but it wouldn’t necessarily enhance it that much.

The three 160-pound champions are viewed as feeble and flawed. What was once a great division under Gennady Golovkin and the premier Canelo is now seen as one of the poorest in boxing.

So if Crawford drops to 160 pounds to win the title, it won’t give him the same legacy boost it would if he stayed at 168 or moved up to 175 to face David Benavidez or Dmitry Bivol.

Frail middleweight thrones

  • Janibek Alimkhanuly – IBF and WBO
  • Carlos Adames – WBC
  • Erislandy Lara – WBA

Mount Rushmore Standard

If Crawford really wanted to be on top of boxing’s Mount Rushmore and follow in the footsteps of the all-time “Huge Four” champions like Sugar Ray Robinson, Muhammad Ali, Henry Armstrong and Joe Louis, he would have moved up to 175 pounds to face either Benavidez or Bivol. These are the moves the above champions would make if they were fighting.

The problem is that Crawford hasn’t shown the same attitude as the top fighters on the Mount Rushmore of boxing. He doesn’t have the same ambition, willingness to walk through fire or even the work ethic to stay lively to take his place among the all-time greats. Crawford only fights once a year. Sugar Ray Robinson fought 201 times as a professional. Armstrong fought 183 fights.

“I think he might want to win the middleweight title because he skipped it. He went from junior middleweight to super middleweight. So maybe he’ll win the middleweight title to fill that gap,” Roy Jones Jr. said. Boxing news about what Terence Crawford should do next. “I think he does that and that’s it.”

Will Crawford rise – or will he retreat?

A move to middleweight won’t do much to assist Crawford’s legacy because the boxing public doesn’t rate champions Janibek, Adames and Lara highly. None of them are widely discussed by casual and die-hard boxing fans. They are unseen. Why would it matter Crawford is scheduled to undergo a mind transplantThink like Sugar Ray Robinson and Henry Armstrong and step up to 175 to take on these top-shelf predators:

  • Dmitry Bivol
  • David Benavidez
  • Artur Beterbiew
  • David Morrell

If there was a way to transplant the minds of Sugar Ray, Armstrong or Ali into Crawford’s head to give him the courage to challenge the above talents, only then could he become one of the greatest boxing champions of all time on Mount Rushmore.

“I think they want a rematch.” said Roy Jr. when asked where Canelo Alvarez is going after his loss to Crawford. “I don’t think so, no,” Jones Jr. said. on whether Canelo will win the rematch with Crawford.

It’s obvious to fans that Crawford is hanging on to his undisputed 168-pound title in hopes that Canelo will ask for a rematch so he can earn another huge payday in his second fight with the Mexican star. Crawford reportedly earned $50 million for his September 13, 2025 fight with Canelo.

Bud’s trainer Bernie Davis has already said his asking price for a rematch with Canelo is $100 million. Crawford will exploit his just 12-round unanimous decision victory over Alvarez as leverage to try to get a better deal if negotiations for a rematch take place.

A second fight will do little to enhance Crawford’s legacy as the 35-year-old Canelo is viewed by veteran fans as a waste. If Crawford is going to defend his undisputed super middleweight title, a more significant fight will be against younger, stronger and bigger fighters at 168:

  • Two Christians
  • Lester Martinez – *assisted Crawford in sparring for Canelo
  • Osley Iglesias

Last update: 28/10/2025

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Peter Fury Shares Final Thoughts on Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley 2: I Still Think That

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Peter Fury Shares Final Thoughts on Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley 2: "I Still Think That"

Top trainer Peter Fury has offered his expert analysis on the rematch between Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley, believing it is still a 50/50 fight.

Others, meanwhile, will argue that Dubois should be made a considerable favourite, based on how he was able to dismantle Wardley in their first encounter.

In order to do so, the ‘Dynamite’ puncher was compelled to climb off the canvas in rounds one and three, having been put down by blows to the top of his head.

Proceedings then became a little one-sided as Dubois, utilising his fundamentals, managed to score an 11th-round finish with his thudding jab and superior footwork.

Wardley, however, wasted little time before activating the rematch clause in their contract and, in turn, securing the chance to reclaim his WBO title at London’s O2 Arena tomorrow evening.

Many will argue that such a swift turnaround could lead to his downfall while, due to his power and toughness, others would suggest that the 31-year-old is always dangerous, no matter the opponent standing across from him.

As such, coach Fury has told Boxing King Media that, while Dubois is rightfully brimming with confidence, it would be foolish to entirely dismiss Wardley’s attributes.

“I think it’s a great heavyweight fight – Dubois has got heavy hands and a good jab as well, so it’ll be interesting.

“You’ve got to say Wardley’s got it all to do, because the confidence of Dubois will be high. And if Dubois’ super confident, he’s a problem.

“But let’s see – Wardley was able to hurt Dubois early on. I still think that fight is a 50/50 fight.”

If he emerges victorious against Wardley, then Dubois will likely be targeting a unification match with Agit Kabayel or Filip Hrgovic in 2027.

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Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley 2: Round-by-Round Live Updates and Results

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Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley 2: Round-by-Round Live Updates and Results

Daniel Dubois will face Fabio Wardley in a rematch of a heavyweight slugfest from earlier this year, with Dubois defending the WBO heavyweight title he took from Wardley on that night.

Live coverage will kick off at 2 pm ET, and we’ll have results and updates during the four-fight, main card undercard, then live, round-by-round scoring and updates for the main event itself.

How to watch Dubois vs Wardley 2

Start time: 2:00 pm ET for main card, prelims begin at 11:00 am ET

Streaming: DAZN (Ultimate subscription or Pay-Per-View)

PPV Cost: As a standalone, one-off purchase Pay-Per-View, the price is $59.99 (or £24.99). With DAZN’s Ultimate tier, the show is included as part of your subscription.

Location: O2 Arena – London, England

Dubois vs Wardley 2 full undercard and running order

Live Stream: Dubois vs Wardley 2 Prelims

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Mannix and Mora Support Fabio Wardley in Quest for Vengeance

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"Mannix and Mora Support Fabio Wardley in Quest for Vengeance"

Fabio Wardley can turn his early success against Daniel Dubois into a rematch victory if he avoids exhausting himself chasing the finish. He proved he could hurt Dubois in their first fight. The harder task is keeping control when an opponent he has dropped continues coming forward.

Wardley scored two early knockdowns before Dubois recovered and stopped him. That leaves an opening for a different result, although better pacing alone may not be enough to prevent another punishing night.

Chris Mannix and Sergio Mora both back Wardley to win again on Saturday, with Mannix choosing him by stoppage. Mora believes Wardley’s eagerness to finish Dubois helped undo his promising start.

“If he just doesn’t punch himself out, he thinks about setting up that right hand, doesn’t get right hand happy,” Mora said to DAZN Boxing.

That is the adjustment Wardley needs to make under pressure. Once Dubois survived his biggest punches, Wardley needed something beyond another loaded right hand. Working behind his jab and putting punches together would give him more ways to attack without spending everything on a single finish.

Dubois deserves credit for surviving those knockdowns and returning to his jab. Mora believes his previous defeats helped him stay composed when Wardley hurt him. Wardley now has his own experience of a fight turning against him.

“I think he’ll be smarter after this fight. I think he’ll learn some lessons,” Mannix said. “I think Wardley wins by stoppage in this fight.”

Mannix’s biggest concern is what the first beating took out of Wardley. Learning the tactical lesson does not guarantee he will absorb Dubois’ punches the same way in the rematch.

Wardley’s power gives their picks a credible foundation. He has already put Dubois down twice. To complete the job, he needs to create another opening without allowing the pursuit of a knockout to leave him exhausted and exposed again.

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Boxing247.com is an independent boxing news publication covering the sport since 2001. It provides original reporting, fight analysis, schedules, results, and informed coverage of major fighters and events worldwide, backed by more than 25 years of professional boxing journalism.

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