Terence Crawford is a consensus pound-for-pound great.
Where Crawford ranks remains subjective, with many believing that unified heavyweight world champion, Oleksandr Usyk should be considered as the number one fighter in the sport.
However, the Omaha man made a good case for him being the premier fighter, particularly after his demolition of Errol Spence Jr in July 2023, which was followed up with his victory over Israil Madrimov last August to become a four-weight world champion.
The 37-year-old was asked by UFC stars, Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo to name his top five current pound-for-pound fighters and despite his recent back-and-forth with Gervonta Davis, ‘Bud’ included the Baltimore man in his list.
“We got me, we got Inoue,” Crawford said on Pound 4 Pound with Kamaru and Henry.
“We got Canelo, we got Usyk.
“We can put Tank in there.”
Undoubtedly a first ballot Hall of Famer, Crawford can further enhance his legacy with a showdown against Canelo Alvarez looking likely to happen later this year.
Alvarez, the WBA, WBO and WBC super middleweight champion must first defeat IBF titlist, William Scull on May 3 in Riyadh, a victory which would see him become undisputed super middleweight champion for a second time.
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Should the bout materialise, Crawford will go up two weight classes to face Alvarez in September and ‘Bud’ believes a win over the Mexican great will see him regarded as one of the top three fighters of all-time.
“I’m the biggest fight [left for Alvarez],” he told The Ring.
“I’m not going to say if – but when I beat Canelo Alvarez, I think I’ll be a top three pound-for-pound fighter of all time with Sugar Ray Robinson and Muhammad Ali.
“I don’t think these spots will ever be taken.
“I think Canelo is up there with the all-time greats, too.
“I already look at myself as an all-time great.
“To move up, [two] weight classes, and dethrone the soon-to-be undisputed 168-pound champion without even stepping foot in that weight class, or the weight class below – it’s like some Henry Armstrong stuff.
“It’s going to be amazing.
“They always say, ‘You’ll never see a great small guy beat a great big guy.’ And I want to change that narrative.”
