Terence Crawford Chasing Undisputed Champion Status in Third Weight Class
Terence Crawford, the talented Nebraska fighter, is on the brink of achieving a remarkable feat – becoming an undisputed champion in three different weight classes. With a current record of 40-0 and 31 knockouts, Crawford is determined to cement his legacy as one of the greatest boxers of all time.
The 36-year-old Crawford could accomplish this historic feat by first defeating current WBA 154-pound champion Israil Madrimov in their scheduled August 3rd main event in Los Angeles. If successful, he would then have the opportunity to face undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez, in a highly anticipated showdown that could solidify Crawford’s place among the all-time greats.
“If he has the ability to unify at [junior middleweight], he’s going to retire as the best fighter who’s ever lived,” said ProBox TV analyst Chris Algieri. “And I don’t think there’s any question about that.”
However, the path to undisputed champion status in a third weight class is not without its challenges. Veteran trainer Teddy Atlas acknowledged that while the Crawford-Alvarez matchup is intriguing, Alvarez has other options, including a potential rematch with Dmitry Bivol or a fight with unbeaten former super middleweight titleholder David Benavidez.
Paulie Malignaggi, a former welterweight titleholder and “Deep Waters” analyst, cautioned that a Crawford-Alvarez bout may primarily attract casual fans, rather than the core boxing enthusiasts who would prefer to see Alvarez face Benavidez.
Ultimately, Crawford’s decision to pursue a clash with Alvarez or remain at 154 pounds to solidify his dominance in that weight class will have significant implications for his legacy. As Algieri noted, a loss to Alvarez could jeopardize Crawford’s standing as one of the all-time greats, while a successful unification at junior middleweight would cement his place among the boxing elite.
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