Teofimo Lopez has predicted a prime-for-prime battle between Floyd Mayweather and Terence Crawford, who both retired as unbeaten five-division world champions.
First to hang up his gloves was Mayweather, who crafted an iconic 50-0 record – albeit by defeating Conor McGregor in his final fight – before earning Hall of Fame recognition in 2022.
Among his most impressive victories were those against Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo, though the American’s split decision triumph over Oscar De La Hoya was particularly instrumental to him reaching superstardom.
Mayweather would then go on to unanimously outpoint long-time rival Manny Pacquiao in 2015, albeit at a time when neither man was in the thick of his prime.
Crawford, meanwhile, did not achieve anywhere near the same financial and commercial success but, in terms of in-ring ability, there is very little to separate him and Mayweather.
‘Bud’ did, after all, become a three-division undisputed champion by dethroning Canelo Alvarez with a unanimous decision victory in his first outing at 168lbs.
The masterful counterpuncher then announced his retirement just a few months later, having also defined his career with a ninth-round stoppage of Errol Spence Jr in 2023.
Yet despite Crawford’s resounding success, three-weight world champion Lopez has told Ring Champs that he would ultimately favour Mayweather to beat him
“Mayweather [would win]. [He was] just fundamentally sound. Also, [it’s] the mindset – I think Crawford’s mind is different [to Mayweather’s].”
Lopez went on to say that Crawford has admitted this himself, essentially conceding that he would lose to Mayweather in a psychological battle.
