Shakur Stevenson refuses to select a winner between Terence Crawford and one other American great, believing a fantasy showdown is simply too close to call.
‘Bud’ retired with a professional record of 42-0 (31 KOs) this past December, calling time on a glittering career that saw him become a three-division undisputed champion.
The American achieved this remarkable feat by dethroning Canelo Alvarez at 168lbs, with the unanimous decision triumph arriving just a few months before his retirement.
Crawford’s best performances arguably came at 147lbs, though, as a string of seven stoppages led him towards a ninth-round finish over Errol Spence Jr in July 2023.
Naturally, his welterweight success has led many to draw comparisons with Floyd Mayweather, another former five-division world champion who remained unbeaten.
After becoming a three-weight world champion between 130 and 140lbs, Mayweather claimed the IBF welterweight title by dethroning Zab Judah in 2006.
This unanimous decision victory was then followed by notable wins over the likes of Ricky Hatton and Shane Mosley, with ‘Money’ swiftly becoming recognised as a generational great.
It is therefore difficult to highlight a clear winner between Mayweather and Crawford, with Stevenson simply swerving the question when pushed for an answer by Daily Mail Boxing.
“I can’t answer it.”
As a close friend of Crawford’s and strong admirer of Mayweather’s, it is hardly surprising that the 28-year-old is reluctant to give his true prediction. He has previously labelled the fantasy match-up a 50/50.
At the same time, though, Stevenson has no trouble backing himself to beat the mighty ‘Bud’, even though the four-division world champion is yet to test the waters at 147lbs.
