Normally, turning 35 years of age would signal the end of a great fighter’s once promising career. Their reflexes slow just a tad, the footwork isn’t as crisp, and their once granite chin has deteriorated considerably. Be that as it may, Terence Crawford is keeping Father Time at bay.
Although the dust on his birth certificate continues to build, Crawford (39-0, 30 KOs) has remained at the top of his game. But while he appears to have plenty left in the tank, Brian “Bomac” McIntyre, his trainer, is well aware that all good things must come to an end.
All in all, McIntyre doesn’t expect Crawford to walk away from the sport any time soon. However, he does acknowledge that when Crawford ultimately decides to hang ’em up, it could be abrupt.
“You gotta be mindful of the fighter,” said McIntyre to BoxingScene.com during a recent interview when asked how long Crawford may have left. “I’m not the fighter. It might be one, it might be two, it might be three, four more left.”
Before the Omaha, Nebraska, native pulls down the curtains on his career, he seemingly has a number of big-time fights on the horizon. For several years now, both Crawford and Errol Spence Jr. have unintentionally danced around one another, much to the annoyance of fans everywhere. Nevertheless, according to multiple reports, the pair have not only re-engaged in talks but could potentially collide in the summer.
Crawford, the welterweight division’s WBO titlist, enjoyed aggregating every world title at 140 pounds and has feverishly attempted to do the same one division higher. Presently, with the IBF, WBA, and WBC welterweight titles in Spence’s possession, Crawford’s road to undisputed glory goes through the Texas native.
If the reports ring true and Crawford does face Spence next, he’ll march into their showdown as a slight favorite. When last seen, the former three-division champion laid waste to David Avanesyan, violently stopping the fringe contender in the sixth round of their December of 2022 clash.
In addition to having his eyes firmly set on Spence, Crawford would love nothing more than to strip Jermell Charlo of his four junior middleweight titles. Over the past 12 months, Charlo, who’s a close friend of Spence, has fulminated with Crawford. As ambitious as ever, Crawford has vowed to take care of business against Charlo the moment he ends his long-standing feud with Spence.
Crawford’s immediate goals, while lofty, are also prudent according to McIntyre. Although the renowned trainer believes that his fighter has already punched his ticket to the Hall of Fame, if Crawford manages to become a three-divisional undisputed champion, only a small handful of fighters in the history of the sport should be ranked above him.
“In the top five pound-for-pound best ever.”