Terence Crawford typically settles debates and arguments in the ring with his hands, but the newly crowned undisputed Junior Welterweight world champion sat with ESPN‘s First Take panel, and clarified who’s the man at his next weight class.
Over the past few years the only person to outpace undisputed Junior Welterweight world champion Terence “Bud” Crawford (32-0, 23 KOs) in acquiring new titles is Game of Thrones’ upstart Daenerys Targaryen. Crawford’s recent accomplishments, including his concise three round knock out victory of former unified champion Julius Indongo in mid-August, convincingly quelled any potential arguments to be had at 140-pounds. In contrast, the pecking order at 147-pounds continues to be a subject of contention in most circles – despite the feats of reigning WBA and WBC Welterweight world champion Keith Thurman.
With his spectacular defeat of Kell Brook back in May, Texas’ undefeated Errol Spence, Jr. – the new IBF world Welterweight champion – began garnering a large share of the No. 1 claims regarding the division’s best fighter. Spence’s standing as the No. 1 welterweight is further buoyed by the fact his name is rarely mentioned by any of the top contenders at 147-pounds.
Thanks to Crawford’s surprising candor during an appearance on First Take, as part of the show’s on-location coverage of the Saul “Canelo” Alvarez versus Gennday Golvokin mega-fight, some fans no longer have to wonder who the boss is at Welterweight. The man to beat is Keith “One Time” Thurman, according to Nebraska’s most popular professional sports entity.
Crawford revealed his No. 1 moments after telling co-hosts Stephen A. Smith and Max Kellerman that he is headed to welterweight. More importantly, if anybody thinks Crawford ranked Thurman No. 1 because he, too, has trepidation in facing Spence, the undisputed champion quickly dismissed that potential inference by boldly stating his reply to a challenge from Spence. Crawford said he will simply stand up and say, “Let’s get it on.”
The casual nature of Crawford’s acceptance of a potential challenge from Spence silenced Smith, as well as signaled that while Smith’s expertise on NBA matters may be unparalleled by his peers, his proclamations about the outcome of a high-level bout such as Thurman versus Spence isn’t nearly as credible.
Smith’s typical antics when discussing boxing on ESPN certainly compelled some fans to invoke the infamous YDKSAB.
Notwithstanding the harmless exchange about boxing match-ups between Crawford and Smith, the important matter is Crawford identified his primary target at Welterweight, and subsequently that portends the possibility that fight fans could get a pair of monumental match-ups in 2018. After an electrifying 2017 for boxing any combination of Thurman-Crawford, Crawford-Spence or a Thurman-Crawford winner versus Spence goes a long way in avoiding any drop off in action next year.
Header photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Article photo by Marilyn Paulino/RBRBoxing
Article photo by Marilyn Paulino/RBRBoxing
