TERENCE CRAWFORD remains unconvinced that Errol Spence Jr’s current achievements merit induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Each year, a new class of boxing legends is inducted during events in Canastota. The 2025 group includes icons like Manny Pacquiao, Vinny Paz, middleweight and super-middleweight world champion Michael Nunn, and world champions Yessica Chavez, Anne Sophie Mathis, and Mary Jo Sanders.
Crawford, 41-0 (31 KOs), secured his own future Hall of Fame spot on July 29, 2023, when he defeated Spence to become the undisputed welterweight champion. It marked the second time “Bud” claimed all four belts in a weight class, having previously done so at super-lightweight against Julius Indongo in July 2017. Since winning his first world title at lightweight in 2014, Crawford has excelled across multiple divisions. Last August, he moved up to super-welterweight and defeated Israil Madrimov to claim the WBA world title. Now 37, Crawford is expected to return to the ring this September, potentially stepping up to super-middleweight to challenge Canelo Alvarez – provided the Mexican defeats William Scull on May 3 and becomes undisputed champion for a second time.
Spence, meanwhile, has not fought since Crawford stopped him in the ninth round of their highly anticipated superfight at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Billed as a 50-50 contest, the bout saw Crawford dominate his greatest rival, knocking him down three times in a career-defining performance. Before that loss, Spence, 28-1 (22 KOs), held three welterweight world titles and boasted an impressive résumé with victories over Kell Brook, Mikey Garcia, Shawn Porter, Danny Garcia, and Yordenis Ugas.
Speaking on Pound 4 Pound with Kamaru & Henry, Crawford reflected on Spence, admitting he was a fan before their rivalry began – and still is.
“Once it got to the point where I moved up in weight and I’m in the same weight as Spence it’s like ‘Oh man you ain’t fighting nobody. You this, you that, you this, you that.’ So now they trying to blemish my accomplishment just to boost him up and I’m like ‘Dude you’re not going to do that because I can retire right now and be in the Hall of Fame’. He couldn’t. Everything that I’ve accomplished he’s still trying to accomplish.”
Co-host and former UFC champion Kamaru Usman interrupted to ask Crawford if he thought Spence would make the Hall of Fame. “Right now? No, how?” Crawford replied. Fellow host and ex-UFC champion Henry Cejudo agreed as Crawford elaborated. “He fought in one division, he unified – he had three (belts) – he wasn’t (undisputed). What I’m saying is they already called him a ‘weight bully’. He beat Kell Brook coming off a loss, an eye injury, he beat Shawn Porter… I don’t want to sound like I’m hating on him, but I honestly don’t know if he make it to the Hall of Fame with the accolades that he didn’t got right now.”
