This may be a substantial statement, but I feel that the victory of Terenka Crawford over Canelo Alvarez on Saturday evening is the most essential single victory in the history of boxing. Throw another on me, and I will gladly discuss the debate or I have proved that he was wrong. Nowadays I hate when I see channels in social media talking about the greatest warriors or fights and behave as if the box did not exist before Mike Tyson.
However, I love the history of boxing and I come back to Gene Tunney, defeating Jacek Dempsey, Henry Armstrong, he became the 3rd champion, defeating Barney Ross, and then Lou Amber. Still, winning my brain and retreating almost a hundred years, I don’t see the past of what Crawford just did. My warrior number 1 of all time is Sugar Ray Rybinson, but even he was not in a state of lightweight heavyweight, losing to Joey Maxim (thermal exhaustion). Achieving Crawford at the weekend is simply amazing.
Taking into account the victory of Crawford last night, I will discuss my five best wins from warriors moving up to two weight divisions, and ultimately what is the victory for Crawford’s heritage.
Top 5
At first I will give some honorary references to those who will not fully create a list. Oscar de la Hoya could be a blast warrior when he faced Manny Pacquiao, but the ease with which the Filipino warrior sent an Oscar at speed and angles, went crazy. He lost him as a star, bypassing the 140 pounds division to face the legend.
Adrien Broner also skipped 140 pounds when he faced Paulie Malignaggi to make his title through a divided decision. Good win, but honestly, when Broner fought the right natural welterweight, he fought.
#5: Bernard Hopkins 46-4-1 V Antonio Tarver 24-3 on October 10, 2006
Bernard Hopkins seemed like he was going to spend his career as a middleweight master after he made 20 belt defense before he lost them to Jermaine Taylor. Bernard, at the moment at the age of 40, decided to skip 168 pounds and go straight to Antonio Tart in a slight massive weight.
Tarver was in a good run, he beat Roy Jones twice and secured the rematch over Glen Johnson. It seemed a arduous question, but “Kata” won almost every round. Bernard has opposed opportunities for several years.
#4: Roy Jones JNR 47-1 V John Ruiz 34-4-1 March 1, 2003
Perhaps it should be higher. At that time it seemed really significant. Roy was the number 1 P4P and it seemed that he would face the undefeated Dariusz Michalchewski to become undisputed or could go to the circuitous weight to face Vassily Jurov.
Roy, however, walked for Legacy and bypassed the then 190 pounds division to face the WBA master John Ruiz. Someone so compact, who became a heavyweight champion seemed unthinkable. If Roy challenged and defeated Lennox Lewis, it would probably be number 1. Transferring two divisions to heavyweight, not only; The guy you face can still be 50 pounds heavier than you.
The masters remained at that time Chris Byrd (IBF) and Corrie Sanders (WBO) died. To be sincere, John Ruiz was not a joke. He left the trilogy against Evander Holyfield (victory, lost, draw) and simply defeated the talented Kirk Johnson. Ruiz was arduous to look good: challenging, robust, powerful and powerful.
Ruiz tried to hurry him, but Roy took control from round 3. It was a really epic performance, and in the age of 33 he could retire as one of the greatest in history. Unfortunately, Roy still boxed 20 years later, but no one can take what he achieved that day.
#3: Shane Mosley 34-0 V Oscar de la Hoya 32-1 June 17, 2000
At that moment, Sugar and Goldenboy were considered the best P4P fighters, but Shane was airy, with a welterweight Oscar. De la Hoya lost only once, controversial to Felix Trinidad, with most of the impressions that he did enough to win. This is a fight that I would recommend to everyone to watch.
Technical chess at a high level adapt to the right amount of operation. At that moment, Shane looked not to be beaten and without doubt the pound for number 1. Unfortunately, he did not succeed when he met with the overdue Vernan Forrest, losing the competitions, although he still had a star career.
#2: Ray Leonard 33-1 against Marvin Hagler 62-2-2 on April 6, 1987
This is really the only win that is similar to what Crawford did on Saturday. The Hagler record is extremely similar to Canelo’s record. Wonderful seemed to be beaten, mean, powerful, powerful war.
Leonard was a welterweight and he has not fought for 3 years. During the last trip he looked extremely disappointing against Kevin Howard, hitting the deck and looking effortless. Many think that Hagler won this fight, but after watching her so many times he began too slowly and chose the wrong attitude. Sugar Ray strengthened as the 10 best warriors of all time with this victory.
#1: Terenca Crawford 41-0 V Saul “Canelo” Alvarez 63-2-2 on September 13, 2025
Seeing how Crawford fought only for 154 pounds once, it could be argued that he basically moved three divisions. Unlike when Broner or Jones got up, taking smaller masters, Crawford fought the man.
Even Canelo himself, when he got up, accepted the falling Kovalev, not Bivol or Beterbaview. People really have to understand that what Crawford has done should not be possible. Yes, Canelo may fall, but he still beat three undefeated boxers in his last three duels.
He was much more vigorous than Crawford, and the American reached 38 years this month. When Bud defeated Errola Spence, I thought that all this, Legacy Win, 25 best all time, one of the best of his era. The idea that he committed that the fight against Canelo seemed absurd, but he did it and did it. For me, he puts him in the top five of all time and conversation for the best in history. The time has come for him to obtain respect.
Epilogue: I have to take a moment to respect Ricky Hatton. I met him in the fight against Scott Harrison against Wayne McCullough along with other overdue great Johnny Tapia. Ricky was so generous with his time; He will be really remembered as a man of people, more than a boxer. Seeing how he defeated Tsyzyu live, it was the biggest atmosphere I have ever been in. The whole city and nation was behind him and threw every blow with him. He will miss him very much, a real legend.
