“Well, I think it’s a great fight for both our legacies and for boxing as a whole,” Crawford told host Max Kellerman. “But at the same time, you know, I think, you know, a lotta people is reaching when they say it’s gonna damage my legacy. You know, I’m a three-weight world champion, I’m a former undisputed world champion. You know, I have accomplished a lot in boxing. You know, so I really don’t think it’ll damage my legacy. You know, it’ll just go down as one of the biggest fights that never happened.” “When you look back at, you know, ‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard versus Aaron Pryor,” Crawford said, “they never fought each other and, you know, both of them is still considered two of the greatest fighters that ever fought.” Kellerman countered by noting that Leonard fought Tommy Hearns, an undefeated knockout artist at the time, in a welterweight championship unification showdown Leonard won by 14th-round technical knockout in September 1981 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. During that lighthearted exchange, Crawford clarified that he still wants to fight Spence after he defends his WBO belt against Russian southpaw David Avanesyan (29-3-1, 17 KOs) on December 10 at CHI Health Center in Omaha. “By no means am I not saying that it’s not important to get that fight,” Crawford said. “You know, like I been saying for years, that’s the fight that I want. That’s the fight that I been trying to secure. That’s the fight that fans wanna see. You know, but at some point, you know, all you could do is so much. I been doing all that I can to try to get that fight, and I’m still the one to be blamed for not making the fight happen. You know, so I’m gonna continue to try to, you know, get that fight done and, you know, sealed, so everybody can see who the best fighter in the world is. You know, that’s all I could do. That’s all I could do.” https://www.*******.com/crawford-i-...170496?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook Sigh. There's a lot to unpack here. This is what I'll say: these fighters need to just shut up and fight. Legacy is #1, 2, and 3 on your list of priorities if you want to go down as a half of Fame worthy athlete. He just isn't getting it. Yes, Crawford is extremely skilled. Yes he won belts in multiple divisions and is on the p4p list. Who. Did. He. Beat? That's the ONLY thing that matters. When people look back at this era 20 years from now and they're evaluating the careers of this generation, the main thing they'll be curious about is who were the best names on their records. What were the most memorable fights? What were Crawford's signature wins? Does he even HAVE any? Where is Crawford's "rumble in the jungle" or his "fight of the century"? He compared himself Leonard and Pryor, but it was a flawed comparison. Yes there were many talks for them to fight, but Pryor campaigned at 140, Leonard at 147 (and Leonard eventually took a shot at 160). A better comparison would have been how Andre Ward and Golovkin missed each other despite being only 1 division apart. Not only that, as Kellerman pointed out, Leonard took risks and had legendary duels with other guys in his division like Hearns, Benitez, etc. Pryor has his signature win/legendary moment with Arguello. They each had great careers making them household names because people look back fondly at the entertaining fights they were in. Because the best were fighting the best. Crawford is certainly not a household name and part of it was his own fault. He doesn't market himself, doesn't even promote his own fights on social media, and most crucially he doesn't seem to go out of his way to seek out the big names of his era. He has this annoying attitude like it's always everyone else's fault and that he's so much better and those guys need him more than they need him. This thread isn't about whose at fault between Crawford and Spence, who deserves more money, or any of that other **** I don't care about none of that, I just want to see the best fighting the best and I can't stand when fighters have this attitude like "oh well, I tried to make the fight happen". Crawford might end up messing around looking like this in a few decades lying to himself: This content is protected
You used a lot of words to say "I don't like Crawford." Oh, did he say the same scripted things every fighter says but doesn't mean? You don't say!? He wants easy fights for the most money? Shocker. Crawford reads the queue cards and collects his ten million. We'd all be lying to ourselves if that was the outcome. At the end of the day most anyone on this forum can pick apart a resume. What is Wlad's signature win? What about Lennox Lewis? As for Crawford, yeah his resume is trash but he unified a division. Only eight men have accomplished this in boxing. Eight.
Both guys legacies are a joke if they don’t fight each other.. You wanna know why Joe Calzaghe is not heavily respected over here in the US. It’s because his accomplishments along with Ottke’s cancel each other out. How is it possible for 2 fighters in the same division to have 20+ defenses at the same time and both retire undefeated. Them not fighting each other was a detriment to their careers. Errol Spence and Terence Crawford should both have a black mark on their legacies if this fight doesn’t happen. This doesn’t compare nowhere near to Floyd and Manny since both guys had secured legacies before Manny even moved to WW..
I still think Crawford with his emotional asz is scared from those thumping bodyshots from Errol Spence. Look at Ugas, not entirely huge, small and lithe like Terrence, we seen Spencer put in HEAVY work that night, bone crushing bodyshots, body to the head. Spence is such a heavy hitter, he literally made Shawn porters babies came out bruised. The great pacman was not afraid of him BUT little ol' Terrance idk... Just a thought. It's like when a light heavyweight spars a light heavyweight, he puts in work. But when you put in a light heavyweight vs a heavyweight that adds putting in extra work, heavy work, making your muscles sore, tired the next day... So on and so forth . It seems like the only two fighters in the world who have ambition in different weight classes are usyk and canelo. We used to have an era littered with weight class changing: Roy, Floyd, Shane, Oscar, Manny, Cotto, etc. IF Crawford is not scared, than the op is right "acting like dismissive of the Errol Spence fight." I agree 100% what he says, in the thread above.
If that's all you took away from my post then you have horrible reading comprehension. I'm not a mind reader. If you say something I will believe and I will judge you based on your actions. His actions have been pretty consistent: hard headed, apathetic dismissive attitude whenever the subject comes up to face other big names. He makes a half assed effort (or no effort) in promotion, plays hard ball in negotiations, etc. I'm not here to discuss how much money another man makes. My point was very clear: if he truly cares about legacy he'd be a lot more proactive and his actions/words would reflect that. I'm not holding him to a different standard or picking on him, I say the same thing about every active boxer with a pulse. You think I'm happy with the ongoing drama and finger pointing between Davis and Ryan??? I also want them to stfu and fight. I didn't claim to be someone special because I said nothing but the truth. Lewis basically cleared out his division. Wladmir dominated for a decade. Pretty goofy comparison. They both searched under every rock looking for good opponents. Crawford ISN'T.
Completely agree. Some people's feelings are getting hurt as if I'm just picking on Crawford. No, both Spence and Crawford's legacies will take a huge hit if this fight doesn't happen. I will say this though, Crawford will end up looking worse at 147 because Spence has done more and is looking to move up to 154 as well. That's not even debatable.
Who. Did. He. Beat? Gun to the average boxing fan's head, will they be able to remember Indongo or Postol...? That was also a long ass time ago. He's a 147 boxer now. He's got 1 belt, the other guy has 3, and he's acting like he's not in a hurry to get those belts and cement his legacy. That's the issue.
Once again that arguement can be used on anyone. Since you and I have been talking about Lennox Lewis, as an example, who did he beat? Tyson 17 years after he was first champion? Holyfield 10 years and an enlarged heart later? Michael Grant? Not to mention losses to McCall and Rahman. Who. Did. He. Beat? You say Lewis "basically" cleared out a division so he gets a pass. I say Crawford literally cleared out a division and it's suddenly a question of who did he beat?
Hes not acting. He literally doesn't care. You either think he does, or that he should and that's the problem. It messes with your bias. Yeah he says the same nonsense most every fighter says..,"I want to thank God and my team", "We give 110%", "I love my fans", "Legacy matters" blah blah blah. He doesnt have the personality to be the charismatic liar like Fury, or even interesting like a piece of wet cardboard.
Stupid question Lewis beat a prime Tua (ranked #1), Hoylfield (champion), Mercer (prime gold medalist) Morrison (champion), Ruddock was ranked #1. Briggs was a prime lineal champion coming off his best win. These are all recognizable household names coming off impressive wins. What ****ing household name+#1 contenders/champions did Crawford beat??? The answer is none. Just stop. I'll take a resume like Lewis full of MEMORABLE FIGHTS against PRIME RANKED opponents over a perfect record against mediocre/C level guys who are completely out of their league, past their prime etc. He's LYING TO HIMSELF just like how you're lying to yourself thinking Crawford's career holds a candle to Lewis somehow. I can see why you're such a big fan of his. You're both delusional. If he isn't acting, then he's stupid. Never said he needs to be super charismatic or outgoing. I'm saying he makes zero effort whatsoever to promote himself, his own fights, or to try to get matches with the best names in his era. This is not up for debate and you've even agreed with me so WTF do you keep replying for? He will end up like Riddick Bowe, miserable and coping with the fact his career wasn't even 50% what it could have been primarily due to his own horrible attitude.
ive said pretty much what you just said. crawford thinks he doesn't need spence. but if he wants to call himself the best welter, he damn well does. and like you said, in 20 years nobody will have heard of his opposition, except for the guys spence beat before him.
You think Holyfield was prime for Lewis? You are delusional. Holyfield Retired in 1994 and came back, he had an enlarged heart due to HGH and was well past his best having been through wars with Tyson and Bowe, as well as age and body abuses catching up with him. Ruddock had been through multiple wars and hospital vists after Tyson, hardly prime... I could go on but won't. You see what you want to, nothing more. You seem to want to cherry pick what is and isn't prime along with moving goal posts saying "basically" clearing out a division gives Lewis a pass and actually clearing out a division gives Crawford none. I'm done with your nonsense. Crawford beat everyone in front of him and cleared out a division. He is one of ONLY EIGHT MEN IN THE WORLD to unify a weight class.
