Crawford Backs Himself to Beat Anyone – Including Floyd Mayweather

Terence Crawford believes there is very little to choose between himself and Floyd Mayweather if they ever faced off in the ring. This perspective is shared by many, including boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya.

Mayweather, regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time, retired undefeated with a 50-0 record, having beaten the most number of world champions. Known for his mix of offensive brilliance and defensive acumen, Mayweather transitioned into a defensive master in the latter part of his career, evolving from the aggressive “Pretty Boy Floyd” to the strategic “Money Mayweather.” His illustrious career includes victories over top fighters like Manny Pacquiao, Canelo Alvarez, and Zab Judah.

Similarly, Terence Crawford boasts an undefeated record and is a three-weight world champion. Unlike Mayweather, Crawford has become undisputed in two weight classes: junior welterweight (140 lbs) and welterweight (147 lbs). He became the first Undisputed Welterweight Champion of the four-belt era by defeating Errol Spence Jr. via a ninth-round stoppage. Spence was widely regarded as the best welterweight of his generation.

Crawford is now seeking further legacy-defining fights, with a scheduled bout against Israil Madrimov at 154 lbs on August 3. A victory would make Crawford a four-weight world champion, positioning him to potentially pursue undisputed status at 154 lbs or challenge Canelo Alvarez at 168 lbs for all the belts.

Given their impeccable records and achievements, comparisons between Crawford and Mayweather are inevitable. Oscar De La Hoya, who has faced Mayweather in the ring, weighed in on the hypothetical matchup.

“When I saw Crawford and Spence, wow. What a massive performance, you know? And ballsy too. The thing with Mayweather is he’s a master defensive boxer. Master. He knows how to pick his shots and he’ll frustrate you to a point where you’re gonna make mistakes.

“The questions would’ve been does Crawford get frustrated and make mistakes? Offensively I think Crawford is better. Throw more punches, combinations, he had a better chance of landing. Mayweather was just a one-two type of puncher. Who knows? It’s a debate … Who would’ve gotten frustrated faster?” De La Hoya said.

Crawford’s unique abilities set him apart. He can switch between orthodox and southpaw stances seamlessly and is considered one of the smartest boxers in the sport. While Mayweather’s defensive prowess is legendary, a prime matchup against Crawford would have posed one of the toughest challenges of his career.

Reflecting on his mindset, Crawford has always backed himself to beat anyone. “My mindset is always, win at all costs. Make sure I’m coming in at 110% shape and prepared for whatever the opponent brings to the table. Make sure that I’m at the best of my abilities going into a fight so I don’t have to worry about anybody else. A lot of people ask me ‘what have you got to do to win a fight’, and I always say, ‘just be myself’. I always say that because I obviously feel that I’m Terence Crawford and can’t nobody beat me unless I beat myself,” Crawford stated.

Although a Crawford vs. Mayweather fight is something fans will never witness, the debate over who would have emerged victorious continues to intrigue the boxing world. If Crawford achieves undisputed status in a third weight class, it will be hard to argue against his place among the greatest boxers of all time.