That could also mean, Pernell would be even better with modern training. Unlike other sports, where you can get bigger and faster like the NBA, NFL, track & field, etc irrespective of size, boxing is still constrained by divisions. So the argument that today's boxers are faster and better in the SAME division doesn't hold much water. The only division you can make an argument for is HW. Today's heavyweights have a huge size advantage over the heavyweights of yesteryear. Is Crawford better than Pernell? I don't want to believe it (one of my favorite fighters). Who knows? Even if Crawford were to convincingly beat Spence, it's tough to see through these old school glasses of mine. They're certainly of the same mold.
There were stories that I heard I dont know if they are true or not of course but I thought I would share them. They say Pea was a much more vicious body puncher then people think and he was known to make heavier boxers he sparred with quit from repeated bodyshots. They all say that Pea had a vicious streak on him and could get down if he needed to and the story that i heard is some amateur heavyweight was talking smack and Pea and him sparred and Pea made him quit with bodyshots. Like I said dont know if they are true or not but these are some of the stories that went around the gyms in the area.
Pernell's skills stood up to the very best, Crawford is superb but his resume is hardly murderers row
Whitaker was great at what he did. Control fights with his jab alone. Great chin, great defense, elite hand, and foot speed. The more complete fighter is crawford. He can do it all. He can go inside or out. Box you all night both ways and if he gets you hurt, thats that. Crawford is underrated by many right now but he will get his dues by the time its all over.
Any fighter in history woulda had a hard time winning a legit decision vs pete. He has the superior jab to anybody hed face. Gonna be a chess match vs anybody. Mayweather, pac, duran, leonard.....dont matter. Robbery more likely then a legit dec loss.
135 ill take a prime whitaker head to head vs anybody. Doesnt matter the name. Mayweather, leonard, duran...... Legit dec Not talking a canelo or dlh robbery.
They're so close in scientific ability it's almost hard to say. The only immediate strike I put on Sweet Pea is the fact that his defensive movements were somewhat exaggerated when he fought volume punchers. He wasted time and energy trying to get away from punches that he could have capitalized on would he have been more precise. Crawford is more precise than Pernell and scores the same amount of points and then some doing less than what Whitaker did. I say Terence Crawford is technically superior by a small margin.
