POLL - Best Welterweight Today? Pac, Spence, or Crawford?

in terms of earning their rankings in the last 3 or so years...

Spence fought Porter W, Swift W and Brook W (when Kell was ranked TBRB #1 but after breaking orbital against GGG), L. Peterson W
Thurman fought Porter W, Swift W and Pacquiao L
Porter fought Thurman L, Swift W and Spence L
Swift fought Thurman L, Porter L and Spence L
Pacquiao fought Horn L*, Matthysse W, Broner W and Thurman W
Crawford fought Horn W*, Benavidez W, Khan W, Kavaliauskas W, Brook W

All fought at least one top 5 guy at the weight, one (Crawford) has a lone top 5 opponent, very questionable at that (champ-by-theft* Horn).

You really gotta give it to Bob......he may not have succeeded in turning Crawford into the next mega-earner but he really voodoo'ed the hell out of the self-proclaimed boxing intellectuals over at Ring and TBRB, and of course the over-eager boxing fan who wouldn't be caught dead sleeping on making the same exact determination lest they be looked down upon as "ignorant" and incapable of recognizing a, er, supreme pound-for-pound talent blah blah blah

Spence, Thurman, Porter, Swift, Pacquiao--these guys went in there and actually fought top 5 guys at '47 so we don't have to wrack our brains and "extrapolate" how they would perform if they faced the top welterweights. The fact that most of these fights between fellow top 5 guys were close only confirms their rankings are more or less legitimate.

Switch over to the lone outlier among TBRB and Ring's welterweight top 5, Terence Crawford. On the strength of a victory over Horn, beneficiary of the infamous "Australian Job" where even Bob probably had a hand in the conspiracy, and no other top 5 opponent at welterweight, has been consistently ranked in the top 5, and now has even been ranked #2 at '47 by TBRB!

Imagine what a lone victory over a champ-by-theft could do to one's ranking, as done by Ring and TBRB. Crawford virtually coasted on this victory and simply bided his sweet time after, picking on a one-kneed opponent, a lower-tier never-were and two shot names.

So, regarding the question of who is the best welterweight, of course it's Spence. One does not have to "extrapolate" how his abilities will translate into a fight against a top 5 guy. He did fight these guys already. He may not have fought Thurman and Pacquiao and Crawford yet, but he's been in against the other top guys AT WELTERWEIGHT.

As for those who think Crawford is the best at welterweight, a simple commentary--all they go on by is their mind "extrapolating" how "Bud" switch-hits this guy and times that guy and likely knocks out such and such. "Those" in this case is a formidable entity, in quantity and quality. Can you imagine the collective pompousness and self-importance of the TBRB and Ring panels doing these rankings and of course the customary "me-too" boxing fans eager to be the first to call the next legandary champion who will redefine boxing's collective standards by their sheer performance.

It actually doesn't hurt to wait before Crawford actually gets in there with someone relevant, because all the hosannas to him are still mere "extrapolations" until we see Crawford fight a top 5 welterweight.

 

Considering that Pacquiao is the Oldest and still up there - He is the MAN !
The ONLY one with the 8 weight Division Champ and the PPV king of all the 3.
Hands Down Pacman takes this.

 

Even today? I don’t know if he can still pull it off if he goes in there with Spence/Crawford anymore.

 

Bud is the best but it's tight between him and Spence, Pac deserves credit for still being in the conversation after such a long career

 

Spence is the best. Crawford is second.

Pac is third or maybe even lower. I have lingering doubts as I don’t believe Pac can do now what he did even a year or two ago. Age is factoring in and so is desire, desire being the key factor.

This is evident in his daily life and activities as Pacquiao was just named President of PDP-LABAN, PRRD's party. Also in Pacquaio himself, who is talking about facing McGregor instead of, you know, an actual boxer or boxing champion. Pac also hasn’t fought in eighteen months which is the longest time out he’s had in a long time. Covid related due to money or not, Ring Rust does factor in.

 

You believe Pac beats Spence or Crawford?

 

Off my eye test I think Bud is the best welterweight in the division , I can see Bud switching up and nailing Errol , Crawford is the best fighter to switch styles since Hagler . Pacman can't handle him either, I don't think Spence or Manny want anything to do with him.

 

Spence is the deserved number 1, but Crawford is the best imo.

 

1) Pac
2) Inoue
3) Pence/Bumford

 

Canelo

 

Skillswise Pacquiao.

But he's as old as Noah right now, so probably one of the others.

Shave 5 years off him and it would be him for sure.

 

At the Weltercatchweight of 155 ...

 

I agree with Rummy’s analysis Spence is the top Welterweight in the world and Bud is the best pound for pound fighter in the world right now.

 

Im going for Bud

He will brutally smash Spences chin as and lay him out if they meet