Terence Crawford has been ballyhooed since he first stepped on the professional scene in 2008. He was once viewed as the number one amateur in the world and didn’t waste much time proving that he was the man to beat.
World title reigns in three separate weight classes, including an undisputed run at 140, hasn’t come with the proper respect that Crawford (39-0, 30 KOs) believes he deserves, at least not recently.
July 29th almost feels like a celebration as opposed to an actual fight. Boxing fans have patiently waited on both Crawford and Errol Spence Jr. to dance in the middle of the ring for roughly half a decade. Although Crawford is a slight betting favorite, he doesn’t appreciate or understand anyone that is going against him. Sure Spence (28-0, 22 KOs) is a great fighter, but Crawford simply believes that he’s a level above him.
Training camp has been long and arduous but the Omaha, Nebraska, native is putting the finishing touches. Though he sequesters himself in Colorado, Springs, to remain focused and drown out the noise, Crawford did admit that some of the babel has reached his earlobes.
The dubious voices bring along a level of vexation for Crawford. But it also motivates him to run that extra mile and spar those extra three minutes. For those who continue to doubt him, Crawford reveals that he has no issue with reminding them why he considers himself the best fighter of this generation.
“I’ve been the underdog my whole career. Coming into this fight, I feel as if a lot of people are writing me off,” Crawford told Shawn Porter, his former opponent and good friend on The PorterWay Podcast. “Saying well, ‘Errol’s bigger, Errol’s stronger, he’s more technical, his jab is better, he’s better defensive, he could take a punch better.’ I’m just sitting here and licking my chops because I know who I am. I know what I’m capable of.”