Photo by Chris Farina/Top Rank
Before the euphoric buzz of Terence “Bud” Crawford’s (24-0, 17 KOs) career-defining ninth-round knockout of former unified featherweight titlist and 2004 Olympic gold medalist, Yuriokis Gamboa (23-1, 16 KOs), transitions into it’s half-life underneath what has been an active summer for boxing; one can’t help but mull over what’s next for the young lightweight champ?
Crawford, a technically sound switch-hitter, blends a solid ring IQ with a boxer-puncher’s approach in his aggressive but judicious efforts to “close the show” on his opponents. He’s willing to slug it out if provoked or threatened, although it should be noted that he has considerable defensive skills. Head movement, footwork and speed are all weapons in his arsenal. He is consistently showing improvement as he gains experience. Coming off such a spectacular title defense, it seems that the sky is truly the limit for the 26-year-old champion.
Late last year, Crawford’s previous HBO-televised undercard fight with Andrey Klimov was serenaded with boos from those in attendance. This led many to question his ability to become a major attraction despite his undeniable talent, and might explain why his successful attempt at the WBO lightweight title in March–held in Scotland, the backyard of the then titleholder Ricky Burns–was not picked up by HBO.
HBO’s airing of the Omaha native’s first hometown fight with Gamboa was a success, as it was the highest-rated Boxing After Dark of 2014. With that, Crawford adds “fight of the year candidate” to his impressive resume, answering those who questioned his potential to be an attraction.
Will Crawford look to unify the lightweight titles and clear out the division?
Photo by Chris Farina/Top Rank
It’s uncertain, although he is capable. A move up in weight is a possibility for a big money fight with some of the notables in the super lightweight, junior welterweight and possibly welterweight divisions. What is certain is that Crawford’s team and Top Rank will look to capitalize on the momentum gained by Crawford’s scintillating defeat over Gamboa.
Another certainty is that the lightweight division is ripe with talent and prospective matchups that could provoke Crawford to substantiate his first-rate potential. Bob Arum has already mentioned that Crawford could be a prospective opponent for Manny Pacquiao a year from now.
Before we hop into the DeLorean and set it for a year from now, Arum has already penciled in a second title defense for Crawford on November 29, 2014 against the seasoned challenger Raymundo Beltran (29-6-1, 17 KOs). Beltran, a deserving but lesser known Mexican lightweight challenger, was jobbed in his previous attempt against Burns for the strap Crawford now holds.
To clarify, Beltran is certainly a worthy and acceptable opponent for Crawford; but there are three matchups I would consider to be more exciting, more noteworthy and could bump Crawford into the pound-for-pound conversation.
Miguel Vasquez
Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images
Rugged IBF lightweight champ Miguel Vazquez recently defended his title against his Russian contemporary, Denis Shakov, in Macao on the “Ring of Gold” undercard after 14 months of inactivity.
Vazquez has only three losses, but hasn’t tasted defeat in 6 years. His first loss was at the hands of Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in Vazquez’s pro debut, and then once again to Alvarez in Vazquez’ failed attempt at welterweight. His third loss was to former WBO welterweight champ, Timothy Bradley.
Vazquez is an unusually large lightweight with a wiry frame, like Thomas Hearns, and prefers to use his length range and box from the outside. He’s a very accurate puncher and his defense is more about range and footwork than slipping punches. He is an emotional fighter and can be goaded into a fight if frustrated. Vazquez is one tough customer; he’s never been stopped.
This would be a great matchup for Crawford in the pursuit of unifying the lightweight titles. The seasoned veteran would be a gauge for how much Crawford has grown as a fighter. Vazquez is the riskiest opponent for Crawford at lightweight.
This might not catch the attention of the casuals, but would garner significant interest from the enthusiasts. While Vazquez and Crawford are primarily technicians, they both are game to slug it out , which is great for all fans.
Vazquez recently signed with Al Haymon, and is slated for an upcoming bout with Kevin Mitchell. This might end up being nothing more than a fantasy matchup based on this signing and what remains of the storied cold war since Richard Schaefer’s split from Golden Boy; though it would be a great fight for both champions and for boxing.
Omar Figueroa
Photo by Naoki Fukada
Omar Figueroa, the current WBC lightweight champ, would be the best matchup for Crawford if he decides to pursue a unification bout. The undefeated Figueroa rose to notoriety by decisioning Nihito Arakawa in the exhilarating and bloody war of attrition that became of their fight for the WBC “interim version” of the actual title Figueroa currently holds.
Figueroa is stylistically pleasing to most fans because he is a pressure fighter looking to come forward and throw tons of punches. He is the prototypical inside fighter and a murderous body puncher to boot. He has a smaller frame but keeps his guard high and elbows tucked inside as he presses his opponents .
Defensively, Figueroa does not use footwork, he uses head movement and slips punches to counter. While he has shown the ability to cut his opponents off, he tends to stalk them. Figueroa has a respectable beard like Vazquez and hasn’t been stopped, but he’s relatively green with opponents that most enthusiasts would know.
In Figueroa’s last fight, his first title defense, against amateur rival Jerry Belmontes (who beat Figueroa five times in the amateurs), Figueroa walked away with the controversial decision. It wasn’t an impressive showing for Figueroa and may have exposed his flaws against the outside, mobile boxer types.
Figueroa seems to be the relatively easier option for Crawford when compared to Miguel Vazquez. Even though Crawford and Figueroa share the same number of ‘recorded’ pro fights (with the exception of an unrecognized pro fight Figueroa won by knockout in Mexico), Figueroa seems to be the greenest of the three prospects.
As previously stated, boxers that use range and mobility may trouble him, which is an advantage for Crawford going in .
Figueroa is promoted by Golden Boy, so unless Bob Arum and Oscar De La Hoya make good on their intentions to end the cold war, this could also be a difficult matchup to make.
Yuriorkis Gamboa
Photo by Will Hart/HBO
Why the hell not?
Boxing fans should want to see if Terence Crawford and Yuriorkis Gamboa can replicate their first encounter–a bonafide barnburner and fight-of-the-year candidate, again. To Gamboa’s credit, he seemed dominant in the early rounds with blazing hand speed and footwork.
Gamboa showed the capability to win, but when Crawford adjusted in the middle rounds, Gamboa did not. The fight became incredibly entertaining because Gamboa was willing to go out on his shield. Unfortunately for him, that’s exactly how he went out. Afterwards, Gamboa took to Twitter to tell his fans that he tried his best, and with the heart and determination he showed, it’s impossible to question his sincerity.
There’s really not much to add in selling this matchup–we’ve seen it before. It sells itself in that respect. The question would be, does Gamboa want to give it another shot? He has already mentioned that he will campaign at junior lightweight, however that doesn’t translate to him avoiding a rematch with Crawford.
Gamboa should take a tune-up fight if considering a rematch with Crawford .The stretches of inactivity before his last fight and the fight previous to it showed a more vulnerable Gamboa than the phenom who took the featherweight division by storm . Gamboa has been saying that Mikey Garcia is who he’s considering for his next fight. So much for taking a soft touch while calibrating himself for bigger fights in the future, but that is a very respectable move considering his gritty performance in the Crawford scrap.
This matchup should still be considered a wild card for Crawford. Despite Crawford winning in dramatic fashion, the fact still remains that Gamboa controlled the earlier rounds of the fight. With a little fine tuning, the possibility exists for him to be capable of doing the same for 12 rounds.
If Gamboa should win a rematch, that would leave the door open for a possible trilogy between the two. It’s hard to see a downside, as long as each fight is as exciting and dramatic as the first.
Photo by Lawrence Lustig
Any of these three fighters would be better options for Terence Crawford’s next fight. Ultimately, with the uncertainty of a clear end to the Top Rank/Golden Boy cold war, the Miguel Vazquez and Omar Figueroa fights could end up being fantasy matchups that may never materialize.
As previously stated, “Sugar” Ray Beltran is a solid and deserving opponent. He’s had some set backs in his lengthy career, most of which were due to horrible judging and bad luck. The latest example being his controversial split-decision draw with Burns. After 15 years in the sport, and at 33 year old, his prospects and opportunity for upward mobility are decreasing every day.
A fight with Beltran would amass Crawford the experience he needs to compete at an elite level, but wins over Vazquez or Figueroa, or a rematch with Yuriorkis Gamboa would do more to build a stronger foundation for Crawford and legitimize his first-rate potential.
There are some honorable mentions that didn’t quite make the cut. It’s not totally impractical for Crawford to move up to 140 pounds and challenge Danny “Swift” Garcia’s clinch on the division. Garcia didn’t look convincing in his controversial majority decision victory against the unorthodox Mauricio Herrera.
Recently, Mikey Garcia has mentioned moving up to 135 pounds and a potential bout with Crawford would sell from the fighters’ popularity alone. Stylistically, the fight is an intriguing matchup where a case can be made for either guy winning.
The catch: Garcia is handcuffed while waiting on a settlement from a legal suit he filed against Top Rank. Once again, this may be an impossible fight to make in light of Bob Arum’s history of rarely negotiating with fighters who have filed suits against him, as Crawford fights under the Top Rank banner.
Crawford has the advantage over all three of these opponents at lightweight. His ability to transition from orthodox to southpaw is one of the most natural and effective applications of switch hitting since “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler’s middleweight reign. He also appears to be more technical than Vazquez, Figueroa and Gamboa. The only knock on Crawford is that when he knows his opponent is inferior, his boredom with the fight is noticeable. When he is bored, he becomes a bit too relaxed and vaguely sloppy.
It’s hardly a real issue for him, as Crawford makes great adjustments during his fights. If his opponents were to try to take advantage of Crawford’s boredom by landing a huge shot, Crawford would not be afraid to take risks and trade.
Crawford has a bright future ahead of him. Hopefully, he is able to make the necessary moves to capitalize on his talents and abilities and materialize his star quality.
Header photo by Chris Farina/Top Rank
