Terence Crawford and Oleksandr Usyk are regarded by many as the two best fighters in all of boxing.
Both Crawford and Usyk achieved undisputed status in their last fights, in which they scored wins over Errol Spence Jr and Tyson Fury respectively.
As such, the pair – alongside Japanese dynamo Naoya Inoue – are a staple at the very highest echelon of the pound-for-pound rankings of journalists, fans and fellow fighters alike.
One could be forgiven that the ego that has no doubt been instrumental in driving Crawford to becoming a three-weight world champion could come into play and he would shoot down the credentials of those who rival him for top spot.
However, in a media scrum in Los Angeles this week, ‘Bud’ was full of praise for Usyk.
Oleksandr Usyk and Terence Crawford at Vasyl Lomachenko vs Richard Commey… pic.twitter.com/GlYdw7Yn2N
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) December 12, 2021
“Usyk is a great fighter and he’s done great things in the sport of boxing.
“I always felt that Tyson Fury was his ceiling. And for Usyk to go up the weight classes and do what he done, that’s pound for pound in my eyes.”
Crawford, Usyk and Inoue have all achieved undisputed status at two weight classes over the past year – a feat never before achieved in the four-belt era.
The American has the chance to add a belt at a fourth division to his ever growing collection this weekend, when he takes on WBA light middleweight titlist Israil Madrimov.
Despite having had just 11 professional bouts, former amateur standout Madrimov has established himself as one of the very best fighters at 154lbs and will be no pushover for Crawford.
The 36-year-old has not boxed since his incredible win over long time rival Errol Spence Jr last July, and there are question marks surrounding how yet another jump up in weight will serve him.
Should Crawford prevail against the Uzbek, a mammoth clash with undisputed super middleweight champion, Canelo Alvarez looks to be laying in wait, with Saudi Arabia’s Turki Alalshik making no secret of his desire to make the fight.
