Terence Allan Crawford vs. Keith Fitzgerald Thurman, Jr.

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Alright, I'm listening...

If this were indeed to be next for the newly-minted undisputed world champ at welterweight, the WBC, IBF and WBA Super (1st defense) as well as the WBO (8th defense of Crawford) titles on the line.

Thurman has fought just once since his loss to Manny Pacquiao (which took place now over four years ago). That was a UD victory over Mario Barrios, eighteen months ago. Consequently, you might expect him to be unranked by every major org and yet he remains the WBC number one and WBA #3 contender. He appears in neither the Ring Magazine, TBRB, IBF nor WBO current top 15.

Despite the inactivity, my gut says Thurman would actually stand a better chance stylistically vs. Crawford than Spence did. Of course, on account of that very inactivity he probably isn't very near the front of the line as most of the industry speculates that Bud will next either rematch Spence (money option), face Boots Ennis (glory option), or move up to 154lb to challenge Jermell Charlo (grudge match, with the cherry on top being a major legacy boost as that'd make him a titlist in a 4th division and undisputed in a 3rd).

 

Common opponents:

1. Travis Hartman. Both fought him in 2009. Crawford took a UD in March, dropping Hartman in the 4th round. Thurman knocked him out in the second round.
2. Shawn Porter. Thurman successfully defended his WBA title against him 2016 via UD. Crawford did the same with his WBO belt via TKO10 five years later.

 

Or any of them (or Crawford) versus Ortíz.

 

You can disapprove of his blasé attitude toward his career, but can't deny his talent.

Bud could well stop him, but it'd be no cake-walk.

 

I agree. But even as much as I like Keith, it's also hard to disagree with people saying he is far away from deserving this payday.