Both men retired undefeated and both exited the sport at what many consider the ideal moment. Now boxing is left to debate the ultimate hypothetical: who would have won a fantasy fight between Floyd Mayweather and Terence Crawford?
Mayweather’s retirement in August 2017 came just two days before Crawford secured his second undisputed championship, dismantling Julius Indongo at super-lightweight. At the time, Crawford was only just beginning a run that would elevate him into the sport’s modern elite.
Crawford eventually followed Mayweather into retirement in December, stepping away a few months after a stunning victory over Canelo Alvarez to complete a remarkable hat-trick of undisputed titles — this time at super-middleweight. It capped a rise from 135lbs to 168lbs, a journey comparable in ambition, if not scale, to Mayweather’s own ascent through the divisions, where he claimed world titles from 130lbs to 154lbs.
In an era where many fighters linger beyond their peak, Mayweather and Crawford proved that boxers can still leave the sport on their own terms. Their exits, however, have only fuelled debate over how they might have fared against one another at the height of their powers.
While unwilling to pick against his nephew outright, Jeff Mayweather offered his perspective on the fantasy matchup during an appearance on The Mayweather Channel.
“I think he [Crawford] would give Floyd some trouble. But I just think that Floyd is just the best defensive fighter.
“I think that Floyd [and] Crawford’s best weight class was actually at lightweight. Floyd was maybe better at junior lightweight, but still at ‘30 and ‘35 was doing knockouts.”
Mayweather captured his first world title at super-featherweight on October 3, 1998, holding the WBC belt for three years before moving up to lightweight. It was during those early championship reigns that Mayweather displayed a spiteful edge and finishing instinct that would become less pronounced as he evolved into the sport’s supreme defensive technician in later years.
