By: Hans Themistode
From a distance, he appeared to be an excellent warrior. His right hooks, upper-left cuts, unparalleled footwork, uncanny timing and an effortless transition from nampaw to orthodoxy – made Terence Crawford look like another world in the ring.
But, once fans took a close look at the person he was facing, they started wheezing and laughing uncontrollably. That’s no disrespect to Crawford, but how can Crawford, or anyone for that matter, claim he’s the best boxer in the world with a mediocre resume?
No one was surprised when Crawford walked into Ricky Burns’ backyard in 2014 and roughly stripped him of his 135-pound world title. The boxing world was even less surprised as Crawford continued to defend his crown against the likes of Raymundo Beltran and Thomas Dulorme.
While Crawford is busy winning and cementing his place among the greatest players of all time, fans continue to roll their eyes in awe whenever he considers himself a martial artist. the best artist in the world. Even as he seems to back those claims by winning every world title at £140, critics have pointed to victory over Julius Indongo and lackluster long-distancer Henry Lundy as a way to despise him.
Punishment grew louder, laughter grew hateful, and public disrespect for Crawford’s résumé reached an all-time high as he progressed to the welterweight division. Through no fault of his own, Crawford used a number of unknown names such as Jose Benavidez Jr. and Egidijus Kavaliauskas, stopping both men. He’s also faced off against former champions, who overtook their respective primes in Amir Khan and Kell Brook.
Throughout it all, Crawford has received public support as the world’s best boxer, most notably from former two-time champion Tim Bradley and sports journalist Max Kellerman. But sometimes, they even admit they need to meet Crawford in the ring for elite level competition.
With Crawford’s stock falling by the minute, and no big-name fighters in or around his weight class eager to jump into the ring with him, the boxing world began to refute his claims. he more.
But, just as fans were preparing a long list of jokes for Crawford’s next ring appearance, they were surprised when the news broke. After months of speculation, Crawford officially assured the kind of opponent that would force critics to respect him, Shawn Porter.
From the moment both men signed their names on the dotted line, Crawford grew impatient, even more lethargic and even more agitated. So now you’re asking, what gives? After years of begging and begging top names to step into the ring with him, Crawford finally got his wish. But, what would normally be a moment of joy for him has become a proving ground for outrage.
Despite being good friends, Crawford wanted to hurt Porter, destroy him, embarrass him, and leave him unresponsive by the time their contest was over. When the two started fighting at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, this past Saturday night – Crawford has unlisted twice before.
In the end, their competition is not one-sided. In fact, at the halfway point, anyone’s war must be won. But as the championship rounds passed, the penalty followed. In season ten, Crawford sends his men to the picture. Moments later, Crawford began to cry with a series of punches.
As Crawford began to roll, his hard and sharp shots missed Porter’s chin. While he may be on the receiving end, he is simply a puppet. The first right-hand man to push Porter onto the deck was for his critics. His subsequent photographs then ended their contest and pushed Porter into retirement meant for his doubters, objections, and skeptics.
The moment their contest was officially over, Crawford stepped out into the middle of the ring and stomped his feet. Again, it is a dynamic of symbolism.
For years now, Crawford has been telling all who will listen that he is the best boxer in the world, and whenever he steps into the ring, it is his home and alone. he. Most refused to believe him. The skills were always there, but the right opponent to prove himself never appeared.
Now, after heartlessly stopping Shawn Porter, his perception has changed. The question of whether he is the best boxer in the world will always be subjective. But, more than anything, one thing has been proven.
Terence Crawford is who he says he is.
