Fight number two at Welterweight looked much like fight number one. Crawford outskilled, then knocked out the so called bigger man. It’s clear that moving up in weight has done nothing to diminish Crawford in any way.
The question of whether his punching power would travel with him has been seemingly answered as well. Although he’s looked impressive, I think it’s time for a step up in competition. No disrespect to both Jeff Horn and Jose Benavidez Jr., but they aren’t exactly world beaters. Don’t get me wrong, they’re good, but we need to see Crawford in their with better competition.
Unfortunately for Crawford, on his side of the street (Top Rank/ESPN) there is not much top-notch competition. So for the purposes of this article we’re looking directly across the street because that’s where all of the mouth-watering matchups lie.
Let’s rank the best matchups for Crawford next.
3. Errol Spence Jr.
Photo by Amanda Westcott/Showtime
Wait! Don’t go!
I know Errol Spence (24-0, 21 KOs) should be number one on this list, but hear me out. Errol Spence vs. Terence Crawford can legitimately go down as possibly one of the best fights in the history of boxing. Trust me, that’s no exaggeration. With a few more victories under his belt, Crawford could become a virtual lock for the Hall Of Fame and Spence, with his dominance, is on his way. These are the two very best in the division.
Well, I’m sure Keith Thurman disagrees, but he seems to fight once every five years now.
I think Spence vs. Crawford just needs to marinate a bit longer. It just seems premature to put these guys in the ring at this present moment.
I know they both want it now, but I think if they waited it would serve them both some good. Make no mistake about it this is the best match to make, but let’s wait just a tad bit longer.
2. Shawn Porter
Photo by Marilyn Paulino/RBRBoxing
Say what you want about Shawn Porter’s (29-2-1, 17 KOs) unappealing style, he often times gets the job done.
He’s a bulldog in there, beating his opponents with volume and will, more than skill. Not to say that he can’t outbox his opponents, but that’s just not his strong suit.
When he took on Danny Garcia (34-2, 20 KOs) in his last bout he took a different approach in the early rounds by trying to box and move against Garcia. It was not a very effective game plan for him to say the least.
Towards the middle and end of the contest he went back to his aggressive style and that in turn won him the decision.
Terence Crawford just might be the best pure boxer in boxing regardless of weight class, but that’s what makes a matchup with Porter so much fun. Porter will be in Crawford’s face all night long. It would be a great fight to see and one that can truly go either way.
1. Danny Garcia
Photo by Marilyn Paulino/RBRBoxing
Though he’s no longer a champion, Danny Garcia is still a big-named opponent for just about anyone in the Welterweight division.
He’s lost two of his last three bouts, but those losses came only at the hands of undefeated WBA champ Keith Thurman and WBC champ Shawn Porter.
Contrary to what others may think, Garcia is not past his prime. He’s just not the spectacular pound-for-pound level fighter he was touted to be.
His resume boasts plenty of great names that he’s defeated such as Erik Morales and Zab Judah, but those guys were way past their primes. Victories over Paulie Malignaggi (past his prime) Lamont Peterson (controversial) Robert Guerrero (past his prime) and Lucas Matthysse (overrated) have all given Garcia one of the best resumes in boxing today.
In his last few bouts however he’s been exposed as an ordinary fighter.
Crawford has said repeatedly that he only wants to fight the other champions. Danny doesn’t fall in that category, but he is a big-named opponent who could catapult Crawford into the other fights he wants.
We don’t care about the politics of boxing, we just want to see the best matchups.
Is there someone I missed on my list? Comment who you actually want to see Terence Crawford in the ring with next.
Header photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank
