At times, Terence Crawford sits back and pinches himself. The pain he feels brings an immediate smile to his face that he isn’t dreaming.
As an amateur, Crawford (39-0, 30 KOs) knew that he would eventually turn pro. Looking back on his career now, the Omaha, Nebraska, native believes that he massively overachieved. The only lofty goal that was on Crawford’s list was to become a world champion. Now, having checked that off his to-do list several times over, the soon-to-be 36-year-old is having a ball.
With world titles in three weight classes, pound-for-pound supremacy, and seemingly a Hall of Fame ticket punched – Crawford has essentially done it all. This Saturday night, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, he’ll have a chance to add a bit more to his resume.
On the night, Crawford will look to repeat as an undisputed champion when he takes on Errol Spence Jr. The stakes are high for Crawford but he wholeheartedly believes that he’ll have his hand raised in victory.
Always viewed as the smaller man when he enters the ring, Crawford’s welterweight run has been nothing short of dominant. Since making the move in 2018, Crawford has stopped every single 147-pounder that’s stood across the ring from him.
Those wins, while respectable, will pale in comparison if he knocks Spence off his high horse. Pilfering every championship title from his longtime rival is something that Crawford has envisioned for an incredibly long time. Nevertheless, Crawford screwed up his face and raised his eyebrows incredulously when he was recently asked about the significance of a win over Spence.
For those who believe that Crawford should only be considered an all-time great welterweight if he’s successful Saturday night, are clearly missing the boat.
We all know the names. Floyd Mayweather, Sugar Ray Leonard, Manny Pacquiao, and a long list of others are normally named first when discussing the best of the welterweight best. Win, lose, or draw, however, Crawford believes that he’s done more than enough to earn a spot amongst them.
“My name already up there,” claimed Crawford to Ray Flores. “It’s just a matter of going out there and putting the cherry on top. Furthering that legacy.”