Terence Crawford is 36 now, staring up at either a legacy showdown in September against Saul “Canelo” Alvarez if he can sharpen his lobbying game, or the opportunity to enhance his pound-for-pound stature by winning a world title in a fourth weight class.
Trailing among those options is remaining a welterweight and fighting a still-developing non-champion 10 years his junior.
On Tuesday’s episode of ProBox TV’s “Deep Waters,” analysts Chris Algieri and Teddy Atlas both detailed the factors in place that are leading Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs) away from a 147-pound date against Philadelphia’s Jaron “Boots” Ennis (31-0, 28 KOs) to either pursue a junior middleweight belt or to make a longshot play to fight Alvarez.
“[Crawford] and his team have said Boots is not on their radar,” former 140-pound titleholder Algieri said. “It wasn’t the type of fight they’re looking for. They’re looking for big money.
“Let’s be honest: We’re at the stage of Terence Crawford’s career where he’s done it all. This is the twilight of his career. He’s looking to maximize his earnings and maximize his legendary status. … At this point, Terence Crawford is making money moves, and I’m not sure the Jaron Ennis fight is the kind of money that’s going to entice him to stay at 147.”
Ennis is on a course to make the first defense of his version of the welterweight title this summer, according to his freshly minted promoter Matchroom Boxing.
Despite Crawford having overwhelmed three-belt welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. in July, Crawford has given literally no indication he will return to the division where he stood as undisputed champion just a few months ago.
Not only has he called out Alvarez, but he has also appealed to the WBO to parlay his “super” champion status into an automatic shot at the champion, who surprisingly became California’s Sebastian Fundora, by virtue of his blood-soaked split-decision upset of previously unbeaten Australian Tim Tszyu on March 30.
Fundora suffered a broken nose in victory and is medically suspended by the Nevada Athletic Commission until Sept. 27, likely meaning he won’t fight again until December.
Crawford could opt to meet Tszyu, as he planned, or pursue another 154-pound belt. But neither those titleholders nor Israil Madrimov or Bakhram Murtazaliev have the type of household name that Crawford seeks.
“He wins with everybody in that weight class now,” Atlas said on Tuesday’s episode of “Deep Waters.” “He carries his power. … What’s so special is what’s inside Crawford. He doesn’t believe you can beat him. He’s a special guy.
“And his timing is at a different dimension. He sees things other people don’t see. He’s so calm. Just a twitch of your muscle … you’re just starting to see that, and that’s why he’s always ahead of you.”
Alvarez is due in the ring May 4 in Las Vegas against former junior middleweight champion Jaime Munguia. Should Alvarez win, his choices to fight could be unbeaten former super middleweight champion David Benavidez, super middleweight Edgar Berlanga or Crawford.
It’s unknown how the WBO will handle Fundora’s extended absence.
Rather than remain in limbo, Crawford could opt for Tszyu or increase his intensity to request Alvarez, should the Mexican star dispose of Munguia.
“He has so many opportunities at the higher weight class,” Algieri said.
Added Atlas: “And there’s no Godzilla up there [at 154]. Crawford can move up there and win.”
Atlas added another caveat:
“The thing I’d be worried about is the one enemy who’s undefeated against anybody, no matter what,” Atlas said. “And that’s Father Time.”
