When all is said and done, Terence Crawford will be remembered as one of the greatest fighters of the 21st century — but where does he stand alongside the greats who came before?
Crawford’s achievements span five weight classes, multiple world titles and, most impressively, the sport’s highest honour — becoming undisputed champion in three divisions. Moving through weights is nothing new in boxing, and in the 1930s “Hammerin’ Hank” Henry Armstrong famously held world titles at featherweight, lightweight and welterweight simultaneously.
For Crawford, the crowning moment arrived in September. Having won his first world title at 135lbs against Ricky Burns, he found himself operating at 168lbs against global superstar Canelo Alvarez. Despite pre-fight predictions that he lacked the physical strength for super-middleweight, Crawford coped with the Mexican’s power, outboxed him, and took his crown.
Where ‘Bud’ sits among the pantheon of greats — from Armstrong to Sugar Ray Leonard and beyond — is up for debate. But Crawford, never short on self-belief, recently declared on social media that in his view only one man from history could have beaten him – Floyd Mayweather Jr.
“I be paying homage to the ones before me but Mayweather the only one I would have had problems with because his mind.”
Before Crawford, the greatest American fighter of his era was Floyd Mayweather who — like Crawford — won titles across multiple divisions and retired undefeated after 50 fights. Mayweather is remembered not only as one of the finest fighters ever, but also as one of the sport’s greatest defensive tacticians.
Across a 21-year career, he defeated the likes of Diego Corrales, Jose Luis Castillo, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto, Canelo Alvarez, Manny Pacquiao and many more.
