Unless Errol Spence Jr. unexpectedly requests a second welterweight fight with him, Terence Crawford would remain in the 147-pound division for only one other bout.
Crawford would welcome what would be a lucrative showdown with Gervonta Davis, the knockout artist who recently predicted that he would take out Crawford in a 147-pound bout. Baltimore’s Davis (29-0, 27 KOs) is one of boxing’s biggest punchers, but he competes in the lightweight division, two weight classes below where the undefeated Crawford became an undisputed champion again by dominating Spence on July 29 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Crawford discussed an improbable bout versus Davis during a recent appearance on “The Breakfast Club,” a popular morning radio program on New York’s Power 105.1 FM.
“He just talkin’,” Crawford told co-hosts Charlamagne The God and DJ Envy. “You know, he got the confidence in his self that he believe that he can do that, because he been knocking all these fighters out that he’s been in the ring with. You know, so no knock to Tank, but there’s definitely levels. You know, and if he come up to 147 and he’s thinking he’s just gonna knock Terence Crawford out, he got another thing coming.”
Davis, 28, has competed as high as junior welterweight, the first division in which Crawford became a fully unified champion. The left-handed Davis dropped former WBA world super lightweight champ Mario Barrios three times in that bout on his way to beating Barrios (27-2, 18 KOs) by 11th-round technical knockout in June 2021 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
In his most recent appearance, Davis knocked out rival Ryan Garcia (23-1, 19 KOs) with a body shot during the seventh round of a 12-round, non-title bout that was contested at a contracted catch weight of 136 pounds. Davis dropped Garcia twice – once in the second round and again in the seventh round – to win their Showtime Pay-Per-View main event April 22 at T-Mobile Arena.
Crawford, 35, has defeated each of his eight welterweight opponents by knockout or technical knockout since he relinquished his IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO 140-pound crowns to fight in the 147-pound division five years ago. He sent Spence (28-1, 22 KOs) to the canvas for the first time in Spence’s 10-year pro career during the second round and caused two more knockdowns during the seventh round en route to a ninth-round TKO victory.
Crawford and Spence are expected to meet in an immediate rematch, either in December or sometime early in 2024. Both boxers indicated that they want their second fight to be contested at the junior middleweight limit of 154 pounds.
Omaha’s Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) stands nearly three inches taller than Davis, who has knocked out 93 percent of his pro opponents.
Crawford contended that he wouldn’t receive credit for defeating Davis because their high-profile fight would require Davis to move up two weight classes. His purse would be big enough, however, to make Crawford take that fight if it were offered.
“Yeah, I’ll stay at 147 for him because that’s a big money fight,” said Crawford, who is also a former WBO lightweight champion. “It’s a big money fight. You know, yeah, but then what? Everybody gonna say he was too small. Nobody gonna give me credit. They’re gonna say, ‘Oh, man, you beat up a little guy that fight at 135. Yeah, you know, Tank like 5-5. You know, he a little guy. You know, yeah, he can punch, but in his weight class. Not saying that he can’t punch in any weight class because he punch, punch, and we see that.
“You know, but what type a recognition I’mma get for, you know, beatin’ up on Tank? A lotta people don’t know 135 and 147 is a big jump. You know, that’s almost 20 pounds. Well, 12 pounds. You know, so, that’s a big jump.”
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.